What Does It Cost to Go to College in South Carolina?

Tuition and Mandatory Costs for the 2022-2023 Academic Year

A change in state law may affect the amount SCTPP pays to state supported schools for the 2008-2009 term and forward.

Effective July 1, 2008 S.75 (Rat #0296, Act #0246 of 2008) Section 59-4-210 states:
"An annual increase in tuition for an institution cannot exceed seven percent per year from fiscal year 2006-07, and to the extent that is does, the institution shall grant a waiver of the difference to the designated beneficiary."

Use the drop down menu below to discover the following for 2022-2023 school year:

  • actual yearly tuition charged by the in-state university
  • the cap mandated by the legislatures
  • actual amount SCTPP will pay the school per semester

Select a School

Select a School
Note: The prices above reflect in-county pricing. If you want to view out of country pricing, download the PDF.
Note: If the actual tuition is below the cap, then SCTPP will pay the tuition in full. Otherwise, if it is above the cap, then SCTPP will pay the cap and the university will have to grant a waiver of the difference. The university should not bill the student for the difference.

Weighted Average Tuition + Rate of Return

Year Weighted Average Tuition (WAT) Return Rate
2002 $5,057 4.89%
2003 $5,891 10.61%
2004 $6,679 3.34%
2005 $7,458 6.17%
2006 $7,954 3.73%
2007 $8,418 13.53%
2008 $9,029 -4.26%
2009 $9,519 -10.02%
2010 $10,204 12.09%
2011 $10,412 20.32%
2012 $10,716 2.64%
2013 $11,081.83 6.85%
2014 $11,469.73 6.77%
2015 $11,844.58 0.99%
2016 $12,268.69 2.80%
2017 $12,730.61 0.82%
2018 $13,076.61 0.07%
2019 $13,143.00 5.81%
2020 $13,189.00 7.01%
2021 $13,227.00 0.29%
2022 $13,239.00 -7.46%

Note on Tuition

A $25.00 out-of-state college benefits usage fee will be assessed for each tuition invoice processed by SCTPP for payment to an out-state college or university.

Rate of Return

The amount of refund you will receive if you are eligible for a scholarship refund will include either the original purchase price plus the compounded "rate of return" earned by the fund OR the current tuition charged at colleges or universities in South Carolina, whichever is less.

Listed you will find the rate of return for all years.

  • Aiken Technical College
  • Central Carolina Technical College
  • The Citadel
  • Clemson University
  • Coastal Carolina University
  • College of Charleston
  • Denmark Technical College
  • Florence-Darlington Technical College
  • Francis Marion University
  • Francis Marion University – Nursing
  • Greenville Technical College
  • Horry-Georgetown Technical College
  • Lander University
  • Medical University of SC – Nursing Professions
  • Midlands Technical College
  • Northeastern Technical College
  • Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College
  • Piedmont Technical College
  • SC State University
  • Spartanburg Community College
  • Technical College Lowcountry
  • Tri-County Technical College
  • Trident Technical College
  • University of South Carolina – Aiken
  • University of South Carolina – Beaufort
  • University of South Carolina – Columbia
  • University of South Carolina – Lancaster
  • University of South Carolina – Salkehatchie
  • University of South Carolina – Sumter
  • University of South Carolina – Union
  • University of South Carolina – Upstate
  • Williamsburg Technical College
  • Winthrop University
  • York Technical College