Columbia, S.C., November 18, 2025, Benedict College is proud to announce its recognition in the newly released 2026 edition of Research.com’s Best US Colleges Ranking, earning the distinction of Most Popular South Carolina 2026. Research.com, one of the nation’s leading academic data and ranking platforms, evaluates thousands of institutions annually to identify colleges that offer the strongest combination of affordability, academic quality, and projected alumni earnings.
“Being named the Most Popular South Carolina College for 2026 is a powerful affirmation of Benedict College’s mission and momentum. This recognition reflects the trust families place in us, the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the extraordinary ambition of our students,” said Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO of Benedict College. “At Benedict, we remain committed to providing an accessible, high-quality education that transforms lives, strengthens communities, and creates pathways to economic mobility.”
The 2026 ranking analyzed more than 6,000 U.S. institutions, narrowing the list to over 1,700 colleges that met the platform’s rigorous criteria. Each institution was evaluated using 400+ metrics sourced from trusted databases including, IPEDS and College Scorecard.
Research.com’s proprietary entropy-based evaluation method ensures a uniquely precise measurement of institutional value and outcomes. Pawel Dabrowski, Ph.D., Data Scientist and leader of the Research.com ranking project, highlighted several data insights that contributed to Benedict College’s strong performance: “After a careful analysis of hundreds of data points from a wide range of sources, we were able to prepare a comprehensive profile of Benedict College that should be a valuable and detailed source of information for potential students.
It’s worth highlighting some key facts we’ve discovered. The average annual tuition for Benedict College is $15,400. Graduates can expect a median salary of $26,936 within a year after graduation. The acceptance rate for Benedict College is 67%, and the average graduation rate is 21%. Our research showed that 97% of students at Benedict College receive some form of financial aid.
In addition to earning the Most Popular South Carolina 2026 award, among the 56 colleges and universities in South Carolina, Benedict College ranked in the top 20% representing a strong placement across multiple Research.com rankings:
- Best Colleges in South Carolina: 11
- Best Value Colleges in South Carolina: 11
- Most Popular Colleges in South Carolina: 10
- Best US Colleges (National Ranking): #384 (Out of over 1,700 degree-granting schools.)
These results reflect Benedict College’s continued commitment to academic excellence, accessibility, and opportunity for students across South Carolina and beyond.
For more information on Research.com rankings and methodology, visit: https://research.com/best-colleges
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Founded in 1870 by a woman, Bathsheba A. Benedict, Benedict College is a private co-educational liberal arts institution offering 29 competitive baccalaureate degree programs and two master’s degree programs. The Midlands HBCU welcomes students from several counties in South Carolina, states across America, and countries around the world. The College also has a diverse faculty deeply engaged in teaching, research, and service.
Benedict College has been highly regarded and exceptionally ranked for its programs by several academic and traditional publications. Benedict College is the recipient of the 2024 UNCF Institutional Excellence Award given by UNCF’s Institute for Capacity Building Program in celebration of an HBCU that achieved next-level performance. Benedict was also named HBCU of the Year by HBCU Digest and voted the number one Gold Winner in The States’ BEST College or University in 2025.
Benedict College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate and master’s degrees. Five of the College’s degree programs hold national accreditation: Social Work Program, Environmental Health Science Program, Environmental Engineering, Studio Art, and the Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship.