Hilton Head Island, South Carolina has a population of about 37,805. The city’s median household income is $96,715 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 55.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 2 accredited education programs within 100 miles of Hilton Head Island, with tuition ranging from $5,498 to $29,957 per year. In the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro area, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, K-12 at a median $96,700 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer education programs. Distances are calculated from Hilton Head Island city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah State University | Savannah, GA | 21.6 mi | $5,498 - $17,185 | – |
| South Carolina State University | Orangeburg, SC | 90.6 mi | $11,060 - $29,957 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all South Carolina schools on the South Carolina education page.
Hilton Head Island is part of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro area (BLS area code 25940). 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 | $62,660 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $63,939 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $62,360 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $63,633 |
| Middle School Teacher | $61,990 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $63,255 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $64,690 | SC statewide | $66,010 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $96,700 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $98,673 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $83,710 | SC statewide | $85,418 |
| Tutor | $36,860 | SC statewide | $37,612 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $65,850 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $67,194 |
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.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 37,805 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $96,715 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 55.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 98.0 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Education-related employment in Beaufort County | 1,036 workers, 90 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 2 education programs within 100 miles of Hilton Head Island. The closest is Savannah State University in Savannah, GA (21.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is South Carolina State University (90.6 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near Hilton Head Island are: Education Administrator, K-12 ($96,700), Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($83,710), Educational and Career Counselor ($65,850). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with South Carolina statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Beaufort, SC is 18.1 miles from Hilton Head Island 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.
Hilton Head Island’s median household income of $96,715 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Hilton Head Island while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and South Carolina public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
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.
Return to Best Online Education Programs in South Carolina (2026)