Best Online Education Programs in Charleston, SC (2026)
Charleston, South Carolina has a population of about 152,014. The city’s median household income is $90,038 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 57.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 16 accredited schools offering education programs near Charleston, with tuition ranging from $4,564 to $29,957 per year for indexed programs. In the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, K-12 at a median $101,490 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Education Schools to Charleston
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 16 schools in our directory that offer education programs near Charleston. Distances are calculated from Charleston city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citadel Military College of South Carolina | Charleston, SC | 1.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Medical University of South Carolina | Charleston, SC | 2.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| College of Charleston | Charleston, SC | 2.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Trident Technical College | Charleston, SC | 8.8 mi | $4,564 - $11,453 | – |
| Charleston Southern University | Charleston, SC | 13.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of South Carolina Beaufort | Bluffton, SC | 68.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| South Carolina State University | Orangeburg, SC | 69.7 mi | $11,060 - $29,957 | – |
| Claflin University | Orangeburg, SC | 69.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Voorhees University | Denmark, SC | 75.5 mi | $12,630 - $25,793 | – |
| Morris College | Sumter, SC | 80.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all South Carolina schools on the South Carolina education page.
Education Wages Near Charleston
Charleston is part of the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area (BLS area code 16700). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to South Carolina statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teacher | $63,350 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $62,723 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $59,880 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $59,287 |
| Middle School Teacher | $60,930 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $60,327 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $79,090 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $78,307 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $101,490 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $100,485 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $97,000 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $96,040 |
| Tutor | $49,620 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $49,129 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $63,900 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $63,267 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 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.
Charleston at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 152,014 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $90,038 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 57.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 101.0 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Education-related employment in Charleston County | 4,256 workers, 317 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Charleston-Area Cities With Education Programs
- Hanahan, SC – 8.4 mi away (23,439 pop)
- Mount Pleasant, SC – 8.4 mi away (84,170 pop)
- North Charleston, SC – 9.0 mi away (109,298 pop)
- Goose Creek, SC – 12.6 mi away (42,039 pop)
- Summerville, SC – 18.1 mi away (49,323 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited education schools are near Charleston, SC?
Our directory has 16 accredited schools offering education programs near Charleston. The closest is Citadel Military College of South Carolina in Charleston, SC (1.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Morris College (80.8 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying education roles near Charleston?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near Charleston are: Education Administrator, K-12 ($101,490), Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($97,000), Education Teacher, Postsecondary ($79,090). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with South Carolina statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Hanahan instead of Charleston?
Hanahan, SC is 8.4 miles from Charleston and has its own set of local education programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Charleston an affordable place to study education?
Charleston’s median household income of $90,038 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Charleston 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.
Related Resources
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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