College of Charleston
College of Charleston: founded in 1770, the oldest institution of higher learning in SC

Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University has been ranked in the top 15 percent of the nation's four-year undergraduate institutions in Forbes "America's Best Colleges 2009."

The Citadel
Military college in downtown Charleston founded in 1842

Clemson University
Ranked as the 22nd best national public university by U.S.News and World Report.