Columbia is the capital of South Carolina and is located in the center of the state. Known as Cola or “Soda City” to many, it sits where the Saluda River and the Broad River join to form the Congaree River.
It’s also home to the main campus of the University of South Carolina as well as the largest Army base in the country, Fort Jackson. In addition to the government and military jobs, tech and manufacturing are big parts of the local economy.
Every Saturday, students and other residents converge on Main Street for the Soda City Market, a farmer’s market that “produces” $5 million in sales annually.
Universities in Columbia, SC – 4-Year Colleges and Online
USC’s main campus dominates the college landscape with more than 30,000 students. It’s located downtown and is a large part of the city’s identity.
Benedict College is also located in the city and is one of the fastest-growing United Negro College Fund schools in the nation. Columbia College is an all women’s school that consistently ranks as one of the top liberal arts schools in the South.
ECPI, Midlands Technical College, and Allen University also offer 4-year degrees in Columbia.
Community Colleges in Columbia, SC
Fortis College and Southeastern College are the only schools that primarily focus on 2-year degrees, but a few of the ones above offer associate programs in Columbia.
Get to Know Columbia, SC
There is a great art scene in the city of Columbia, and several recognizable artists have called Columbia home, including Cold Mountain author Charles Frazier, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Jim Hoagland, and singer/songwriters Darius Rucker and Amos Lee.
There is also a lot of fun to be had on the river and in the mountains surrounding the city. Even if the outdoors isn’t your thing, restaurants line the riverwalk so you can enjoy the views with air conditioning.
| Institution Name | City | State | Website | Degree Levels Offered | Modality | Profit Status (CNTLAFFI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen University | Columbia | SC | www.allenuniversity.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Benedict College | Columbia | SC | www.benedict.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Columbia College | Columbia | SC | www.columbiasc.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Columbia International University | Columbia | SC | www.ciu.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Construction Training Center | Columbia | SC | www.constructiontrainingcenter.org | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Fortis College-Columbia | Columbia | SC | www.fortis.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology and Nails-Columbia | Columbia | SC | www.kennethshuler.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Columbia | Columbia | SC | www.kennethshuler.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Columbia | Columbia | SC | paulmitchell.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Remington College-Columbia Campus | Columbia | SC | www.remingtoncollege.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| South University, Columbia | Columbia | SC | www.southuniversity.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Southeastern Esthetics Institute | Columbia | SC | www.seestheticsinstitute.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Southeastern College - Columbia | Columbia | SC | www.sec.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia | Columbia | SC | www.sc.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| W L Bonner College | Columbia | SC | www.wlbc.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |