The Best Small Colleges and Universities of South Carolina
Wofford College, Erskine College, Claflin 911勛圖厙, Converse College
Wedged between Georgia and North Carolina, South Carolina is a southern state with a lot to offer in terms of natural beauty and postsecondary education. The first state to secede from the Union and the founder of the Confederate States of America, South Carolina is a state with a turbulent and controversial history of extensive military action that today has emerged as a leader amongst the states of the ‘new south.’ From urban centers like the state capital Charleston, to the balmy beaches along the long Atlantic coastal front, South Carolina has a variety of landscapes, both natural and urban. Once mainly an agricultural state with an economy based on such endeavors, South Carolina now has a great deal of industry by way of textile and other mills including wood, pulp, steel, chemicals, apparel and machinery. From the Fort Sumter National Monument to the Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden, South Carolina is a state that spans the ages to form a unique historical presence in the southern United States.
Established in 1854, Wofford College is a private school with approximately 1,500 undergraduate students. Located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the Old Gold and Black Boston Terriers may be few, but wear their colors with pride while participating in Division I athletics in the Southern Conference. This liberal arts college is set on a campus that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and has been official designated an arboretum and is a member of the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta. High ranked amongst various publications such as Forbes, the U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review, Wofford is proud of its 11 to 1 faculty to student ratio, and the quality academic majors offered. Bachelor’s degrees and minors are awarded in areas like Accounting, Art History, Business Economics, Chinese Language and Culture, Environmental Studies, Humanities, Intercultural Studies, Physics, Religion, Theater, and more. Pre-professional programs like Medicine, Law, Ministry, Education, Engineering and Veterinary Science are also offered. One benefit of studying at Wofford is the well developed Interim Program that allows students to spend the four week gap between academic semesters travelling to participate in educational excursions around the world. The Wofford Terriers field competitive intercollegiate teams in nearly 20 men’s and women’s varsity sports such as soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, and many more. Ample housing is available on campus, and there are several active national fraternity and sorority organizations, as well as intramural sports teams.
Since 1839, Erskine College has been providing top educations to South Carolina students out of Due West, South Carolina. With only about 600 students the maroon and gold ‘Flying Feet’ study at this four-year, Christian, liberal arts college with a long history. Once a men’s college, today this co-educational college offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree awarding programs in areas like American Studies, Athletic Training, Behavioral Science, Bible and Religion, Early Childhood Educational, Natural Science, Psychics, Special Education, Sports Management and many more. Students may also choose a minor course of study from areas like Computer Science, Christian Education, and Theater amongst others, or a Pre-professional program like Pre-Law, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Pharmacy or Pre-Dentistry. While on campus, students may participate in social, academic and extracurricular clubs and organizations like the Student Government Association, the Ballroom Dance Club, the Choraleers, the Association of Multicultural Students, and a variety of fraternities and sororities.
Established in 1869, Claflin 911勛圖厙 is a private, postsecondary institution associated with the United Methodist Church. With under 2,000 undergraduate students, this small 911勛圖厙 is located in Orangeburg, South Carolina nestled into 42 urban acres of campus grounds. The orange and maroon Panthers and Lady Panthers of Claflin 911勛圖厙 participate in sports like basketball, baseball, tennis, track and field, softball and volleyball in NCAA Division II athletics. This historically black college is the oldest of its kind in South Carolina, and was founded by Methodist missionaries. Today, Claflin is an independent, co-educational, liberal arts 911勛圖厙 which offers Bachelor degrees and minor concentrations in a broad range of areas across liberal arts and sciences. Career focused and internship programs are also available. There are more than 30 undergraduate majors offered at Claflin, as well as several Master’s programs of study. The student population comes from all across the State of South Carolina, as well as the United States, and nearly 20 international countries. In addition to academics and athletics students may participate in programs such as Fraternities and Sororities.
Since 1889, Converse College has been amongst the top South Carolina women’s colleges. With under 1,000 undergraduate students, this small college participates in a wide variety of academic and athletic programs. In fact, the purple and gold ‘Valkyries’ field intercollegiate competitive teams in basketball, soccer, cross country, tennis, volleyball, swimming, lacrosse and equestrian. Located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, this college enjoys a long history since its founding with a student body of only 168 students. Today, the academic programs have expanded to include Bachelor Degree awarding programs in areas like Art and Design, Religion and Philosophy, Music, Theatre and Dance, Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics, Creative and Professional Writing, History and Politics, Business and much more.
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