Best Bachelor's Data Analytics Degree Programs in South Carolina
University of South Carolina-Columbia — Columbia, SC
Key Distinction: Mandatory minor or second major in complementary field outside data science theory. Real-world data analysis projects in students' specialty areas
Hakia Insight: USC's requirement that all analytics majors pursue a minor or second major in a domain field (biology, business, public health) forces specialization from day one rather than leaving it to electives—graduates enter the job market as 'healthcare analytics' or 'supply chain analytics' professionals, not generic data scientists.
The Bachelor of Science in Data Analytics at University of South Carolina is an interdisciplinary program integrating computer science, mathematics, and statistics with a student-selected minor or second major in a data-generating field. The 120-credit curriculum requires a strong foundation in all stages of data analysis, including statistical methods, big data analytics, computing for data science, and visualization tools. Students complete 24 credits in major requirements, 33-49 credits in program requirements (including an 18-hour minor), and general education through the Carolina Core. The program emphasizes real-world data analysis in students' specialty areas, ethical considerations in data work, and communication of findings to non-technical audiences. Major electives span diverse applications including machine learning, genomic data science, geographic information systems, and sociological research methods. Graduates are prepared for careers in data analytics across multiple industries or for quantitative graduate programs in their minor field.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Data Analytics — 4 years, on-campus. BS
Research Labs and Institutes
- USC Big Data Health Science Center
- Center for GIScience and Geospatial Big Data
- Innovation Think Tank Lab
- Social Media Insights Lab
- Artificial Intelligence Institute
- Center for Information Assurance Engineering
- Center for Predictive Maintenance
Industry Partners
- BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina (corporate)
- Siemens Healthineers (collaborator)
- NTT Data Services (employer)
- Microsoft (employer)
- EY (employer)
- Stanley Black and Decker (employer)
- Epic (employer)
- DXC Technology (employer)
- Prisma Health (employer)
- Medical University of South Carolina (employer)
- Atrium Health (employer)
- Live Nation Entertainment (employer)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $NaN. Top Employers: BlueCross BlueShield, State of South Carolina.
Notable Faculty
- Brian Habing — Data analytics and data science program leadership
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 3.0 minimum.
Requirements: Grade C or higher in all mathematics, computer science, and statistics courses required for graduation (maximum 2 attempts per course), Carolina Core requirements (32-45 hours), College of Arts and Sciences requirements (15-18 hours), Program requirements including supporting courses and ethics in data analysis (3-6 hours), Minor of at least 18 hours (or second major) in non-data science field, Major requirements (24 hours): 12 hours core courses + 12 hours major electives, Founding Documents requirement (3 credits in History, Political Science, or African American Studies covering U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Emancipation Proclamation, and Federalist papers)
Location Advantages: Access to state government agencies, healthcare systems, and Southeast financial services sector; Columbia regional hub for corporate analytics
College of Charleston — Charleston, SC
Key Distinction: A liberal arts-grounded program that prioritizes business communication and stakeholder-facing analytics skills alongside technical training, supported by active regional industry partnerships.
Hakia Insight: College of Charleston's liberal arts DNA means its analytics curriculum emphasizes translating findings for non-technical stakeholders—a skill that differentiates graduates when competing for leadership roles, where technical ability alone doesn't determine advancement.
At the bachelor's level, college of Charleston's data analytics offerings emerge from a liberal arts foundation that emphasizes analytical rigor alongside business application—a combination that shapes how students approach data problems. The program integrates statistics, database management, and visualization within a curriculum designed to move quickly from theory to real-world implementation. Students gain hands-on experience through capstone projects that partner with regional organizations, giving them portfolio work before graduation. The Charleston location provides natural connections to healthcare systems, financial services, and tourism industries that increasingly rely on data-driven decision-making. Faculty bring both academic credentials and consulting experience, creating a teaching environment where industry relevance isn't an afterthought but embedded in course design. What distinguishes the experience is the emphasis on communication skills alongside technical competency—graduates describe themselves as able to translate between data scientists and business stakeholders, a capability that makes them competitive for mid-level analytics roles immediately after graduation. The program's size allows for close advising relationships and customized project work, with professors knowing students by name and adjusting recommendations based on individual career goals. For students seeking a regionally-anchored program with strong mentorship and practical project experience rather than a large-scale research powerhouse, this represents a strategic choice.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Data Analytics — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Data Analytics — 4 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Cybersecurity Lab
- Machine Learning and Data Science Lab
- Data Mining and IoT Connectivity Lab
- Artificial Intelligence Lab
- Health Informatics Lab
- Cloud Computing Lab
- Computer Music and Interaction Lab
- Blockchain Lab
Industry Partners
- Boeing (partner)
- Volvo (partner)
- Booz Allen Hamilton (partner)
- Mercedes-Benz Vans (partner)
- Google (employer)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $NaN.
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Tom Kunkle — Mathematics and Statistics
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Proximity to Charleston's growing healthcare and financial services sectorsAccess to tourism and hospitality industry data analytics opportunities
Coastal Carolina University — Conway, SC
Key Distinction: Coastal Carolina's data analytics program differentiates itself through industry-embedded projects and domain-specific learning in tourism, hospitality, and healthcare analytics—sectors central to the regional economy.
Hakia Insight: Coastal Carolina embeds real tourism and hospitality datasets into coursework rather than treating them as optional case studies, giving students a portfolio of live industry problems before graduation—valuable in a region where those sectors account for significant hiring.
At the bachelor's level, coastal Carolina's data analytics program combines technical rigor with experiential learning through a curriculum designed around real industry challenges and datasets. The program emphasizes breadth—students engage with statistical modeling, machine learning, data engineering, and business intelligence while building portfolios of actual client projects. Faculty maintain active connections to healthcare analytics, e-commerce, and tourism analytics (reflecting the Myrtle Beach region's economic drivers), creating internship pipelines and guest lectures from practitioners. A distinctive feature is the program's integration of domain knowledge alongside technical skills; students work in cohorts on capstone projects that often involve real business partners, ensuring they graduate with both technical chops and the ability to frame analytics within organizational strategy. The university's location provides access to hospitality, retail, and healthcare organizations actively using data to optimize operations, giving students exposure to analytics in mature, growing industries. Graduates are competitive for analyst and junior scientist roles, with particular strength in placement at tourism analytics firms, healthcare systems, and regional Fortune 500 operations centers.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Data Analytics — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Data Analytics — 4 years, online
Location Advantages: Access to Myrtle Beach hospitality, retail, and tourism analytics organizations; proximity to healthcare systems and regional operations centers
Winthrop University — Rock Hill, SC
Hakia Insight: Winthrop's small class sizes in a region with limited undergraduate data science options create an unusual advantage: direct access to award-winning faculty and demonstrated employer relationships (John Deere, Ally, Brighthouse Financial) that actively recruit from this talent pool.
At the bachelor's level, winthrop offers one of the only undergraduate data science programs in the Carolinas with small class sizes, award-winning faculty, and an interdisciplinary approach that combines mathematics, computer science, and quantitative reasoning with real-world project experience.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Data Analytics — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Data Analytics — 4 years, online
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: AbsoluteCare, Ally, Alpha-1 Biologics, Brighthouse Financial, John Deere, LPL Financial, Meta, NTT DATA Services, NVIDIA, Palo Alto Networks, Santee Cooper, The Walt Disney Company, UnitedHealth Group.
Location Advantages:
Best Master's Data Analytics Degree Programs in South Carolina
University of South Carolina-Columbia — Columbia, SC
Key Distinction: 100% online format for working professionals. Graduate certificate earned after 12 credits — pursue jobs and promotions while completing master's degree
Hakia Insight: USC's modular structure—earning a graduate certificate after just 12 credits—lets working professionals test the program before committing to the full degree, then leverage that credential immediately for promotions while completing the remaining coursework.
The Master of Science in Data and Communication is a 100% online program designed for working professionals seeking to advance their careers through data analytics and strategic communication expertise. The 30-credit program combines coursework from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications and the School of Information Science, featuring seven core courses and three electives. Students can earn a graduate certificate after completing just 12 credits, allowing immediate career advancement while finishing the degree. The program includes a capstone course involving real-world client projects, preparing graduates for roles in marketing, communications, and data analysis. With the field projected to add 11.5 million jobs by 2026 (28% growth), graduates are positioned for significant salary advancement and career mobility across marketing, communications, healthcare, education, and technology sectors.
Programs Offered
- Data and Communication — 1-2 years, on-campus. MS
Research Labs and Institutes
- USC Big Data Health Science Center
- Center for GIScience and Geospatial Big Data
- Innovation Think Tank Lab
- Social Media Insights Lab
- Artificial Intelligence Institute
- Center for Information Assurance Engineering
- Center for Predictive Maintenance
Industry Partners
- BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina (corporate)
- Siemens Healthineers (collaborator)
- NTT Data Services (employer)
- Microsoft (employer)
- EY (employer)
- Stanley Black and Decker (employer)
- Epic (employer)
- DXC Technology (employer)
- Prisma Health (employer)
- Medical University of South Carolina (employer)
- Atrium Health (employer)
- Live Nation Entertainment (employer)
Notable Faculty
- Brian Habing — Data analytics and data science program leadership
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 3.0 minimum.
Requirements: Seven core courses, Three electives, Capstone course with real-world client projects
Location Advantages: Access to state government agencies, healthcare systems, and Southeast financial services sector; Columbia regional hub for corporate analytics
College of Charleston — Charleston, SC
Key Distinction: First master's degree in data science offered in South Carolina. Excellent faculty-to-student ratio with personalized learning
Hakia Insight: As South Carolina's first master's degree in data science, College of Charleston's program benefits from early-mover advantage in a region with growing healthcare and financial services sectors—meaning fewer competitors for internships and employer relationships still actively building their recruiting pipelines.
The Master of Science in Data Science and Analytics at College of Charleston is a 30-credit program designed for working professionals seeking expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and business intelligence. The program offers personalized learning through an excellent faculty-to-student ratio and cutting-edge research opportunities with world-class faculty. Students engage in industry partnerships with companies like Boeing, Volvo, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Mercedes-Benz, providing internship and employment prospects in Charleston's booming tech industry. The curriculum prepares graduates for data science roles across national security, genomics, drug informatics, and biomedical sectors. As South Carolina's first university to offer a master's degree in data science, the program emphasizes hands-on experience and maintains an extensive alumni network connecting students with industry professionals and career advancement opportunities.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Data Science and Analytics — 1-2 years, on-campus. MS
Research Labs and Institutes
- Cybersecurity Lab
- Machine Learning and Data Science Lab
- Data Mining and IoT Connectivity Lab
- Artificial Intelligence Lab
- Health Informatics Lab
- Cloud Computing Lab
- Computer Music and Interaction Lab
- Blockchain Lab
Industry Partners
- Boeing (partner)
- Volvo (partner)
- Booz Allen Hamilton (partner)
- Mercedes-Benz Vans (partner)
- Google (employer)
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Boeing, Google.
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Tom Kunkle — Mathematics and Statistics
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Proximity to Charleston's growing healthcare and financial services sectorsAccess to tourism and hospitality industry data analytics opportunities
Best Doctoral Data Analytics Degree Programs in South Carolina
University of South Carolina-Columbia — Columbia, SC
Key Distinction: Various funding opportunities including scholarships, assistantships and fellowships awarded competitively. Flexible curriculum allowing interdisciplinary approaches
Hakia Insight: USC's iSchool doctoral program pairs competitive funding (scholarships, assistantships, fellowships) with flexibility for interdisciplinary research, enabling students to bridge library science with the school's Big Data Health Science Center—an unusual path for scholars interested in information policy and health data governance.
The Library and Information Science Ph.D. program at USC's iSchool trains doctoral scholars for careers in information and library science through research-intensive study. The program offers various funding opportunities including scholarships, assistantships, and fellowships awarded through competitive selection, though specific amounts are not detailed. Students must complete 54 credit hours beyond the master's level, including 15 hours of core courses, 6 hours of research methods, 12 hours of electives, 9 hours of cognate work, and 12 hours of dissertation preparation. Students must establish South Carolina residency and complete at least 18 hours on campus over three consecutive semesters. The program requires comprehensive written and oral examinations before graduation. Students are expected to produce work designed for scholarly publication during their elective coursework. The program prepares graduates for faculty and administrative roles at universities, research centers, and private businesses. Doctoral students have been successful in winning scholarships, fellowships, grants, and awards for scholarly work.
Programs Offered
- Library and Information Science - Ph.D. — 4-6 years, on-campus. Ph.D.
Research Labs and Institutes
- USC Big Data Health Science Center
- Center for GIScience and Geospatial Big Data
- Innovation Think Tank Lab
- Social Media Insights Lab
- Artificial Intelligence Institute
- Center for Information Assurance Engineering
- Center for Predictive Maintenance
Industry Partners
- BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina (corporate)
- Siemens Healthineers (collaborator)
- NTT Data Services (employer)
- Microsoft (employer)
- EY (employer)
- Stanley Black and Decker (employer)
- Epic (employer)
- DXC Technology (employer)
- Prisma Health (employer)
- Medical University of South Carolina (employer)
- Atrium Health (employer)
- Live Nation Entertainment (employer)
Notable Faculty
- Brian Habing — Data analytics and data science program leadership
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 3.0 minimum.
Requirements: 54 credit hours beyond master's level, 15 hours core courses, 6 hours research methods, 12 hours electives, 9 hours cognate work, 12 hours dissertation preparation, Comprehensive written and oral examinations, Minimum 3.0 GPA, At least 18 hours on campus over three consecutive semesters, South Carolina residency requirement
Location Advantages: Access to state government agencies, healthcare systems, and Southeast financial services sector; Columbia regional hub for corporate analytics
