Accounting Schools in South Carolina

South Carolina, since its founding as one of the original 13 U.S. colonies, has grown to become a manufacturing and business hub that utilizes accounting professionals. South Carolina currently has a strong economy, with an unemployment rate of 4.1% as of March 2025, according to Trading Economics.

You can earn an online accounting degree in South Carolina to learn new skills and pursue various career paths. Accounting professionals in South Carolina often work as bookkeepers, accountants, and financial managers. If you want to pursue an accounting degree in South Carolina, you can read the following page to discover tuition rates, the cost of living, and average wages.

South Carolina offers various benefits, including its beautiful environment, historical cities, and many accounting programs. South Carolina’s first constitution established a state treasurer’s office in 1776. Since then, its accounting sector has grown to include a comptroller’s office, a board of accountancy, and abundant private businesses.

South Carolina had 177,509 students enrolled in higher education as of 2023, according to the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE). The CHE also recorded a 38.4% graduation rate in 2023.

In 2017, the CHE announced the Ascend 60×30 plan to help reform education. This plan aims to increase the percentage of postsecondary degree-holders in South Carolina to 60% by 2030. The Ascend 60×30 plan intends to help state education by offering additional financial aid, improving college readiness, and completing interstate credit transfer agreements.

South Carolina offers various merit-based and need-based scholarships and grants. You must be a South Carolina resident to qualify for state financial aid. The state’s Legislative Incentive for Future Excellence Scholarship awards $5,000 quarterly to students who graduate in the top 30% of their class, possess minimum 3.0 GPAs, and have minimum SAT scores of 1100.

You can pursue local networking and internship opportunities with a degree in South Carolina. Individuals with relevant state connections, especially in a growing industry, may have an advantage in the job market.

South Carolina holds approximately 1.5% of the U.S.’s population. The state also holds 1.5% of four-year colleges and 2.1% of two-year colleges in the U.S. South Carolina’s higher concentration of two-year colleges may contribute to more adults holding an associate degree in the state than the nationwide average. South Carolina adults hold fewer bachelor’s and graduate degrees than the U.S. average.

If you find suitable accounting programs in South Carolina, you should ensure they have received accreditation. Prospective employers and schools may only accept degrees from accredited institutions. Schools must demonstrate a certain standard of learning to receive accreditation.

Schools receive institutional accreditation. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) provides institutional accreditation to South Carolina schools.

Online accounting degrees in South Carolina can also receive programmatic accreditation, which differs from institutional accreditation. Programmatic accreditation only applies to specific programs, such as accounting in a business school or department.

You should consider several factors when considering a school, including location, cost, available programs, and delivery method. You will likely encounter online, in-person, and hybrid programs. A higher percentage of South Carolina students complete at least some online courses than the U.S. average.

Over 50% of students in South Carolina and the U.S. enroll in one or more online courses. The sections below compare various delivery methods for accounting programs and the benefits of each option.

If you attend an on-campus program, you may have more opportunities than online students to meet peers, network, and interact with professors. South Carolina students can enjoy campuses with over 200 days of sunshine per year, various student organizations, and numerous Greek life experiences.

Online programs allow you to complete coursework from anywhere in the U.S. and avoid having to relocate. Online accounting South Carolina students can save money on housing, moving expenses, and daily transportation.

Many South Carolina schools provide fully online accounting programs, including the University of South Carolina and Limestone University. Individuals with organizational, time management, and self-motivation skills may enjoy online programs.Programs may offer synchronous and/or asynchronous courses. Synchronous learning mirrors the in-person experience with set class times and live lectures delivered virtually. Asynchronous delivery provides more flexibility, allowing you to complete assignments as your schedule allows and view recorded lectures.

Hybrid programs combine on-campus and online courses, requiring you to live near the school to attend in-person classes. This option offers the benefits of traditional and virtual learning and may use synchronous and/or asynchronous delivery for its online courses.

Public two-year and four-year South Carolina schools have a higher average tuition rate than the nationwide average. On top of tuition, students must also budget for books, housing, and daily living expenses.

Fortunately, they finance their education through the following financial aid options:

If you want to learn more about financial aid, please check the links below for additional information.

Online accounting degrees in South Carolina offer in-state and out-of-state tuition rates, though some schools may offer flat-rate tuition to all virtual learners. In-state students and their families contribute to local taxes, which help fund local institutions.

South Carolina participates in the Academic Common Market (ACM) through the South Regional Educational Board (SREB), which offers reduced out-of-state rates for qualified students. Each applicant must come from a participating SREB state and pursue a degree not offered by a public institution in their home state.

You can contact a local ACM coordinator to determine your eligibility.

Each state has a different cost of living, which can include housing, transportation, food, and healthcare costs. If you live in a state with a high cost of living, you must allocate additional funds for daily necessities.

South Carolina has a cost of living score of 95.6, according to World Population Review. With an average cost of living set at 100, South Carolina is 4.4% cheaper than the U.S. average.

IBIS World reports that South Carolina’s economy has a GDP of $266 billion and a 2.3% growth rate. The state’s largest industries include health insurance, commercial banking, and car dealerships. Large companies in the state employ accountants to handle financial reporting, risk management, and audits.

Three of the Big Four accounting firms have offices in South Carolina. Only Deloitte does not have an office in the state. You can pursue in-house and external accounting roles in South Carolina.

South Carolina saw a 3.7% increase in businesses from 2019-2024, among the top 10 in the U.S., according to IBIS World. The state’s growing economy, population, and number of businesses may present job opportunities for prospective accountants. South Carolina’s diverse economy offers accounting jobs in manufacturing, healthcare, and retail stores in Greenville, Charleston, and Columbia.

The following section discusses common South Carolina accounting careers, employment outlook, and wages.

A bookkeeper or auditing clerk may need an associate degree in accounting or a related field. These professionals help maintain financial records through record-keeping in spreadsheets or specialized software. Bookkeepers may also help with payroll, purchasing, and monitoring financial due dates.

Job Outlook in South Carolina (2022-32): +2%

Accountants should have bachelor’s or master’s degrees in accounting to understand complex accounting rules and financial regulations. Accountants can create financial records, prepare taxes, evaluate risk controls, and recommend cost-cutting measures to management.

Job Outlook in South Carolina (2022-32): +14%

A financial manager needs a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business, economics, or a similar field. These professionals create financial statements, business reports, and forecasts. Managers monitor corporate finances to check legal requirements, maximize revenue, and advise executives.

Job Outlook in South Carolina (2022-32): +27%

According to the BLS, most South Carolina accounting jobs pay less than the U.S. average. However, South Carolina’s cost of living is lower than the nationwide average, which may contribute to the lower-than-average wages.

South Carolina has a higher percentage of two-year degree-holders than the U.S. average. Two-year degree-holders in South Carolina can pursue careers in bookkeeping.

Bachelor’s or master’s degree-holders can pursue various jobs required by the state’s largest industries. South Carolina’s healthcare, manufacturing, and commercial banking industries may require accountants, financial managers, and compliance officers.

Each state creates its own requirements for prospective CPAs to sit for the CPA exam and receive licensure. The following list highlights South Carolina’s CPA requirements.

You must have the following to sit for the exam:

Complete the following to obtain licensure:

Note: South Carolina has joined many states in moving to change the 150-credit requirement for CPA licensure.