Renowned for its gorgeous scenery and southern hospitality, South Carolina has a lot to offer. Beyond the friendly populous and natural beauty, benefits of living and studying in The Palmetto State include great weather (4 distinct seasons with hot summers and mild winters), an affordable cost of living, and a fast-growing tech sector - especially in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area. Feeding this burgeoning high-tech workforce is a variety of top-notch colleges. The best computer science schools in South Carolina include Clemson University in Clemson, the University of South Carolina in the state capital of Columbia, and the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC.
This page will explore the leading computer science schools in South Carolina, as well as the best online tech schools for South Carolinians. We will also examine potential career outcomes for CS grads in-state, including the top paying cities and computer science careers in South Carolina.
Best CS Schools in South Carolina
Compare the top-ranked computer science programs in South Carolina.
Clemson University
Ranked as one of the nation's top 10 supercomputing campuses for its Palmetto Cluster supercomputer, Clemson University is the best computer science school in South Carolina. Clemson's ABET-accredited computer science programs cover cutting-edge topics like applied computing, biomedical data science, software development, cybersecurity, digital production and artificial intelligence. Comp-Sci graduates from Clemson have gone on to lucrative careers at tech leaders like Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta and Microsoft.
- Featured computer science degrees:
- B.A. or B.S. in Computer Science
- B.S. in Computer Information Systems (CIS)
- Combined Bachelor's / Master's in Computer Science
- Master of Science in Computer Science
- Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Computer Science
- CS Minors in Digital Media & Cybersecurity
- View all programs at Clemson
- Campus Location:
- Clemson University School of Computing | 100 McAdams Hall | Clemson, SC 29634
University of South Carolina
With over a half-million square feet of labs, classrooms and research facilities, UofSC's Swearingen Engineering Center is one of the largest computer science and engineering campuses in the Southeast. Students at the University of South Carolina can choose from 7 departments and more than 40 programs in computer science and computer engineering. Desirable CS/CE majors at the college include aerospace engineering, data science, cybersecurity, applied computing, and environmental and sustainable engineering.
- Featured comp-sci and engineering programs:
- Computer Information Systems (B.S.)
- Computer Science (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.)
- Aerospace Engineering (B.S., M.S., M.E.)
- Integrated Information Technology (B.S.)
- Computer Engineering (B.S.E., M.S., Ph.D.)
- Graduate Certificates in AI & Cybersecurity
- View all programs at UofSC
- Campus Location:
- University of South Carolina | College of Engineering and Computing | Columbia, SC 29208
Top-Paying CS Careers in South Carolina
Here's how much you can earn in South Carolina's best paying computer science roles.
| Comp-Science Role | Average Salary in SC |
|---|---|
| Engineering Manager | $136,580 |
| Technology Manager | $132,010 |
| Computer Scientist | $106,440 |
| Computer Network Architect | $105,470 |
| Software Engineer | $102,630 |
| Hardware Engineer | $102,100 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Regional Pay for CS Pros in South Carolina
These cities and metropolitan areas in South Carolina pay the top salaries to computer science professionals.
| Location in SC | Avg. Hourly Wage | Avg. Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $43.45 | $90,370 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC | $38.16 | $79,370 |
| Columbia, SC | $38.03 | $79,100 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC | $37.16 | $77,290 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $36.48 | $75,870 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Frequently Asked Questions
Tech and education insiders answer common questions from prospective computer science students in South Carolina.
Does Clemson have a good computer science program?
Yes, Clemson University has the best computer science program in South Carolina. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report ranks Clemson's undergraduate and graduate CS programs 86th and 82nd in the nation, respectively.
Which South Carolina university has the most affordable computer science program?
Of the top 3 computer science schools in South Carolina, UofSC is the least expensive option. The sticker price (tuition + fees) at the University of South Carolina is $12,688 for South Carolinians and $33,928 for out-of-state students.
Online Computer Schools in South Carolina
These top-rated online schools are currently enrolling computer science students in South Carolina.
