Charleston Regional Development Alliance

Berkeley, Charleston & Dorchester Counties

Printed from www.crda.org

Strong Commitment to Education

Business and community leaders in the Charleston region understand the critical role education plays in advancing our area economy. From pre-kindergarten through doctoral level studies, greater Charleston is committed to providing the best educational opportunities possible.

related information

Educational AttainmentChildhood EducationHigher EducationUniversity Research
Educational attainment in greater Charleston is higher than in the United States overall. In fact, Charleston ranks among the top 15% of all U.S. metropolitan and micropolitan areas in terms of the proportion of residents holding advanced degrees.

2011 Educational Attainment / % of Population 25+

  Charleston MSA  South Carolina  United States 
High school diploma or equivalent or higher 87.4% 84.2% 85.9%
Hold a bachelors degree or higher 29.8% 24.1% 28.5%
Hold an advanced degree 10.5% 8.4% 10.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 12/2012.
In 2008, South Carolina was a top-five state in terms of teachers earning National Board certification. Charleston and Berkeley counties were among the state’s leading counties for new board certifications.

Charleston area residents enjoy diverse options in K-12 education, including: For additional information on area public and private schools, visit the South Carolina Department of Education. To learn more about local public school initiatives, visit The Education Foundation.

Charleston S.C. MSA Public School District Statistics

  Berkeley County  Charleston County  Dorchester County II  Dorchester County IV 
Enrollment 29,263 43,255 22,596 2,267
Number of Public Schools 39 78 20 5
Number of Magnet Schools 3 22
Teachers with Advanced Degrees 59.3% 56.0% 53.9% 57.3%
Number of Annual Graduates 1,549 1,992 1,183 141
% of Grads Entering Post-Secondary Education 69.4% 70.3% 70.0% 85.5%
% of Grads Entering Workforce/Military/Other 30.6% 29.7% 30.0% 14.5%
Per Pupil Expenditures $8,332 $9,279 $7,790 $11,826
Pupil to Teacher Ratio 22 to 1 21.2 to 1 24.1 to 1 15.3 to 1
Average SAT Score 1,447 1,426 1,451 1,367
% of Seniors Taking Test 34% 64% 58% 11%
Source: S.C. Department of Education, 9/2012


International Education

  • With an increasing population of non-English speaking students, area schools have developed programs to help foreign-born children assimilate quickly. Many also offer programs to help these children continue to learn their native language and culture.
  • Pinewood Preparatory School offers a number of programs specifically designed for its growing European student population, ranging from kindergarten through grade 12.
  • Special weekend schools offering classes in language and culture have been created by the local Chinese community, which currently numbers about 3,000 residents. Programs are also available to assist non-English speaking students in their efforts to learn the English language.

Beyond K-12, more than two dozen college and university campuses provide easy access to a full spectrum of higher education opportunities, from chemical engineering to the culinary arts. Colleges in the region are regularly ranked among the nation's best by Peterson's, U.S News & World Report and other respected guides.

Charleston S.C. MSA Colleges & Universities

College/University  Fall 2010 Enrollment 
American College of the Building Arts 38
Art Institute of Charleston 700
Centura College 156
Charleston School of Law 242
Charleston Southern University 3,231
The Citadel 3,339
Clemson Architecture Center 22
Clemson University Restoration Institute NA
College of Charleston 11,772
ECPI College of Technology 300
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 300
Limestone College 120
Lowcountry Graduate Center 510
Medical University of South Carolina 2,560
Miller-Motte Technical College 667
Park University 210
Southern Illinois University 268
Southern Wesleyan University 250
Springfield College 185
Strayer University NA
Thomas Edison State College 765
Trident Technical College 14,834
Troy University 117
Virginia College 841
Voorhees College 25
Webster University 400


Additional Major Colleges & Universities within South Carolina

Research Universities Enrollment
University of South Carolina, Columbia SC 25,939
Clemson University, Clemson SC 18,238
Other Public Colleges/Universities
Coastal Carolina University 7,865
Francis Marion University 3,465
Lander University 2,647
South Carolina State University 4,122
University of South Carolina, Aiken 2,797
University of South Carolina, Beaufort 1,444
University of South Carolina, Upstate 4,839
Winthrop University 5,355
Private Colleges/Universities
Anderson University 2,279
Bob Jones University 3,956
Claflin University 1,860
Columbia College 1,444
Columbia International University 1,139
Converse College 1,720
Erskine College 874
Furman University 2,962
North Greenville University 2,260
Presbyterian College 1,221
South University 1,273
Wofford College 1,468
The above institutions offer graduate level degrees or higher in addition to undergraduate degrees.

Source: Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce,
and the S.C. Commission on Higher Education, 11/2010


Charleston S.C. MSA Annual Degrees Awarded by Level

Type of Degree  Number Awarded 
Certificates 909
Diplomas 139
Associate's 1,203
Bachelor's 3,205
Post Bachelor's 13
Master's 823
Specialist 40
Doctoral 385
Total 6,717
Note: These totals are for the five largest area institutions as reported by the SC CHE (Medical University of South Carolina, College of Charleston, The Citadel, Trident Technical College and Charleston Southern University).
Source: S.C. Commission on Higher Education, 5/2013.

Proximity to University Research


The Charleston region is within reasonable proximity to several top-tier research universities, including those in Atlanta and Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill (RTP). The state of South Carolina is also home to three universities with highly respected, growing research programs:

Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)
Charleston, S.C.
Research funding fiscal 2010: $230 million

Clemson University Clemson, S.C.
Research funding fiscal 2010: $150 million

University of South Carolina Columbia, S.C.
Research funding fiscal 2010: $219 million




South Carolina Centers of Economic Excellence

The state's three public research institutions (Clemson, MUSC and USC) may use state funds to create Centers of Economic Excellence (CoEE) in research areas that will advance South Carolina's economy. The program supports CoEE endowed chairs, world-renowned scientists who lead the Centers of Economic Excellence. These centers currently range from regenerative medicine and proteomics to advanced materials and urban ecology.
For more information, please visit www.sccoee.org.