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Best Colleges for Criminal Justice in South Carolina

The best colleges for a Criminal Justice degree in South Carolina, led by University of South Carolina-Columbia, Columbia College and University of South Carolina-Upstate. Each school is shown with its acceptance rate, tuition, and average SAT so you can weigh Criminal Justice programs side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best college for Criminal Justice in South Carolina?

Based on our rankings, University of South Carolina-Columbia is the top-ranked college for Criminal Justice in South Carolina. Other top choices include Columbia College, University of South Carolina-Upstate, North Greenville University.

What are the best Criminal Justice schools?

The best Criminal Justice schools, based on program-specific federal data including median earnings and graduate counts, are University of South Carolina-Columbia, Columbia College, University of South Carolina-Upstate. Our rankings use College Scorecard field-of-study data rather than editorial opinion.

How much does it cost to study Criminal Justice?

The average out-of-state tuition among top Criminal Justice programs is approximately $26,065 per year. However, costs vary significantly — many schools offer generous financial aid packages that can reduce the effective cost.

How long does it take to get a Criminal Justice degree?

A bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice typically takes four years of full-time study. Some programs offer accelerated tracks or combined bachelor's-to-master's options that can extend or shorten the timeline.

How are these Criminal Justice rankings determined?

Our major rankings are independently calculated from U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study (CIP) data — primarily median earnings 4 years after graduation and program scale (graduate count), with a 10+ annual graduates minimum per program. They are not derived from US News or any other publication.

Career outcomes for Criminal Justice graduates

Among the top 10 ranked Criminal Justice programs, the average early-career salary is approximately $44,474 per year. Below are the highest-paying Criminal Justice programs based on federal College Scorecard earnings data reported by graduates four years after completion.

  1. 1. University of South Carolina-Columbia — Columbia, SC · 60.2% acceptance · SAT 1,297 · $35,972 tuition · 79% grad rate
  2. 2. Columbia College — Columbia, SC · 93.9% acceptance · $22,214 tuition · 45% grad rate
  3. 3. University of South Carolina-Upstate — Spartanburg, SC · 67.3% acceptance · SAT 1,099 · $23,090 tuition · 43% grad rate
  4. 4. North Greenville University — Tigerville, SC · 66.7% acceptance · SAT 1,156 · $25,800 tuition · 55% grad rate
  5. 5. Newberry College — Newberry, SC · 89.8% acceptance · $31,100 tuition · 45% grad rate
  6. 6. Coastal Carolina University — Conway, SC · 75.3% acceptance · SAT 1,143 · $29,628 tuition · 48% grad rate
  7. 7. Anderson University — Anderson, SC · 54.7% acceptance · SAT 1,202 · $34,970 tuition · 66% grad rate
  8. 8. Claflin University — Orangeburg, SC · 64.9% acceptance · $18,282 tuition · 52% grad rate
  9. 9. Benedict College — Columbia, SC · 95.7% acceptance · $17,440 tuition · 24% grad rate
  10. 10. Limestone University — Gaffney, SC · 97.3% acceptance · SAT 1,000 · $26,470 tuition · 35% grad rate
  11. 11. South Carolina State University — Orangeburg, SC · 82.6% acceptance · $21,750 tuition · 37% grad rate

Best Colleges for Criminal Justice in South Carolina on PickACampus