Best Online Counseling Programs in Gaffney, SC (2026)

Gaffney, South Carolina has 5 accredited schools offering counseling programs, with tuition ranging from $2,650 to $15,451 per year for indexed programs. Gaffney has a population of about 12,612. Median household income is $41,214 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In South Carolina, the top-earning counseling-related role is Social and Community Service Manager at a median $73,410 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Counseling Schools to Gaffney

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer counseling programs near Gaffney, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Gaffney city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Gaffney. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Winthrop University

Rock Hill, SC 36.6 miles from Gaffney BOC Score 53.8
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $47,185
Avg net price $15,343/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 33

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Bob Jones University

Greenville, SC 42.5 miles from Gaffney BOC Score 59.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 66%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $44,354
Avg net price $16,641/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 82%
  • Programs offered: 29

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Southern Wesleyan University

Central, SC 67.1 miles from Gaffney BOC Score 48.2
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 55%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $47,756
Avg net price $15,464/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 68%
  • Programs offered: 20

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Clemson University

Clemson, SC 73.5 miles from Gaffney BOC Score 80.4
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 84%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $71,513
Avg net price $22,253/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 93%
  • Programs offered: 50

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Columbia International University

Columbia, SC 76.3 miles from Gaffney BOC Score 44.9
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 75%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $38,951
Avg net price $26,036/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 61%
  • Programs offered: 20

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC 82.8 miles from Gaffney BOC Score 74.1
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 77%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $62,177
Avg net price $22,811/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 92%
  • Programs offered: 68

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

South University-Columbia

Columbia, SC 82.8 miles from Gaffney BOC Score 18.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 29%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $34,421
Avg net price $27,693/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 39%
  • Programs offered: 13

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Coker University

Hartsville, SC 102.2 miles from Gaffney BOC Score 36.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $40,117
Avg net price $20,286/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 66%
  • Programs offered: 26

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all South Carolina schools on the South Carolina counseling page.


Counseling Wages Near Gaffney

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (South Carolina, statewide)
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor$52,370
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor$60,340
Marriage and Family Therapist$55,430
Rehabilitation Counselor$35,990
Counselor, All Other$55,140
Social and Community Service Manager$73,410

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Gaffney at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population12,612Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$41,214Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+21.8%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Counseling-related employment in Cherokee County452 workers, 64 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Gaffney-Area Cities With Counseling Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited counseling schools are near Gaffney, SC?

Accredited schools offering counseling programs near Gaffney are listed on this page, ranked by BOC Score and distance from the city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data on every site update, so it stays current as programs open and close.

What are the highest-paying counseling roles in South Carolina?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying counseling-related roles in South Carolina are: Social and Community Service Manager ($73,410), Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor ($60,340), Marriage and Family Therapist ($55,430). Wages for Gaffney workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Shelby instead of Gaffney?

Shelby, NC is 16.2 miles from Gaffney and has its own set of local counseling programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Gaffney an affordable place to study counseling?

Gaffney’s median household income of $41,214 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Gaffney while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and South Carolina public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.


Learn More About Counseling Programs

Other Programs Available in Gaffney

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Gaffney:

Data verified: July 23, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.