2 SC universities among best in the nation, US News & World Report says. Here’s where they rank
Two of South Carolina’s flagship public universities have been named among the nation’s top institutions in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best National Universities rankings.
The 2026 edition of the annual college rankings evaluated more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities, with 436 schools earning a spot in the National Universities category. To qualify in this category, schools must offer a full spectrum of undergraduate and graduate programs, including doctoral degrees, and hold a commitment to producing research.
Here are the South Carolina spots that made the cut:
Clemson University
Clemson University, located in Clemson, ranked #75 overall among National Universities, making it the highest-ranked school in South Carolina in this category. It was also named:
- #36 in Top Public Schools
- #28 in Most Innovative Schools
- #202 in Best Value Schools
Clemson has an undergraduate enrollment of 23,401 students and an acceptance rate of 38%. The university’s most popular majors include business and engineering. The four-year graduation rate is 68% and the average in-state cost after aid is $22,433. The student-faculty ratio is 16:1.
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina, located in Columbia, placed #127 in the National Universities category. It also ranked:
- #63 in Top Public Schools
- #188 in Best Value Schools
USC has one of the largest undergraduate enrollment rates in the state, at 30,187 students and an acceptance rate of 60%. Popular majors include business, marketing, management, and health professions. USC reports a 70% four-year graduation rate. The average in-state cost after aid is $21,044 with a student-faculty ratio of 20:1.
How schools qualify for these rankings
To be eligible for any of the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, institutions must meet several criteria:
- Offer bachelor’s degrees
- Hold regional accreditation
- Provide traditional, campus-based education
- Enroll first-year, full-time students
To earn an overall ranking or rank within one of the categories, schools must classify under the Carnegie Basic Classification as offering a broad undergraduate curriculum and graduate degrees, enroll at least 100 undergraduates and report a six-year graduation rate for a sufficient cohort of full-time, first-time students
Methodology of the Best Colleges rankings
The U.S. News & World Report rankings are based on up to 17 factors that measure academic quality and graduate outcomes. These include:
- Graduation and retention rates
- Faculty resources
- Financial resources per student
- Academic reputation
- Graduate indebtedness
- Earnings of alumni
Each school’s performance is standardized on a scale of 0 to 100. The top performer in each category receives a score of 100, with other schools ranked in relation to that benchmark.
Schools submit data to the U.S. News statistical surveys and are verified using third-party sources such as the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Commerce, and Elsevier.
To ensure integrity and accuracy of the data, the U.S. News & World Report assessment process includes:
- A top academic official from each school must certify the accuracy of the data. Schools that do not certify are noted with a footnote.
- Submissions are automatically compared with prior years’ statistics and other reported information.
- Analysts conduct factor-by-factor reviews using regression testing and outlier detection. Data is cross-referenced with the prior year’s submissions, as well as peer and IPEDS data.
- A final prepublication review of the data used in the rankings calculations allows schools to correct any potential inaccuracies. Analysts re-run the rankings with these updates and review them.
To view the full list of ranked National University by the U.S. News & World Report, click here.
This story was originally published October 1, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
