Best Environmental Science Schools Near Sumter, SC (2026)

Updated September 1, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Sumter, South Carolina has 4 accredited schools offering environmental science programs. Sumter has a population of about 43,065. Median household income is $53,071 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 28.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In South Carolina, the top-earning environmental science-related role is Environmental Engineer at a median $96,140 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Environmental Science Schools to Sumter

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer environmental science programs near Sumter, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Sumter 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 Sumter. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC 36.5 miles from Sumter
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
74.1 BOC Score
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: 165

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Claflin University

Orangeburg, SC 40.4 miles from Sumter
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
44.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 53%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $40,304
Avg net price $17,800/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 77%
  • Programs offered: 36

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Winthrop University

Rock Hill, SC 78.2 miles from Sumter
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
53.8 BOC Score
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: 53

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Lander University

Greenwood, SC 103.0 miles from Sumter
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
43.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 53%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $42,396
Avg net price $15,363/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 69%
  • Programs offered: 37

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Anderson University

Anderson, SC 134.4 miles from Sumter
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
49.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $42,101
Avg net price $23,544/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 82%
  • Programs offered: 55

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Clemson University

Clemson, SC 148.5 miles from Sumter
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
80.4 BOC Score
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: 136

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Environmental Science Wages Near Sumter

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (South Carolina, statewide)
Environmental Scientist and Specialist$74,910
Conservation Scientist$52,310
Environmental Engineer$96,140
Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist$64,090

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.

Sumter at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population43,065Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$53,071Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+28.6%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)88.0 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Sumter-Area Cities With Environmental Science Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited environmental science schools are near Sumter, SC?

Our directory has 4 accredited schools offering environmental science programs near Sumter. The closest is University of South Carolina-Columbia in Columbia, SC (36.5 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of North Carolina at Pembroke (85.5 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying environmental science roles in South Carolina?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying environmental science-related roles in South Carolina are: Environmental Engineer ($96,140), Environmental Scientist and Specialist ($74,910), Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist ($64,090). Wages for Sumter workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Columbia instead of Sumter?

Columbia, SC is 30.1 miles from Sumter and has its own set of local environmental science programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Sumter an affordable place to study environmental science?

Sumter’s median household income of $53,071 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Sumter 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 Environmental Science Programs

Other Programs Available in Sumter

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

Data verified: September 1, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; 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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