Are There Free PhD Programs Online in South Carolina?

Although fully free online PhD programs may not be available in every field of study, students seeking an affordable degree path can significantly reduce costs through various financial aid options. Federal and state aid, scholarships from higher education institutions, and other funding sources can cover a portion of tuition costs for eligible students. However, it is important to note that additional costs beyond tuition may apply.

That's why it helps to find the fully funded online PhD programs that will lower your tuition fees and other costs to almost nothing. You can consider a few options in South Carolina for online degrees in rewarding fields, such as healthcare, business administration, computer science, social sciences, and the humanities. Although there are no truly free PhD programs online, you can get a much more affordable education through fully funded online PhD programs.

Are There Any Fully Funded PhD Programs in South Carolina?

You can earn a practically free doctorate degree online and avoid student loans by choosing from the tuition-free online colleges, some of which offer doctoral degrees. These are schools that offer generous tuition waivers and other ways to cancel out costs.

This is the next best thing to free PhD programs online. Solid programs are available for terminal degrees, such as the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and Doctor of Education (EdD), as well as other respected credentials in several accredited fields of study. If you can't find your desired program in South Carolina, you can also look at other online colleges throughout the U.S.

How Do I Receive PhD Funding?

Graduate students should pursue financial support from as many sources as possible. This includes private scholarships, institutional scholarships, Pell Grants, South Carolina grants, teaching assistantships, paid research projects, and more.

It's even possible for online doctoral students to hold teaching assistant or research assistant roles while attending school remotely. Many distance learners assist faculty members in teaching courses over Zoom, grading papers and exams, and tutoring undergraduates without setting foot on campus. This not only helps you pay for a high-quality degree program but positions you better for future employment as a newly minted PhD upon graduation.

What Does PhD Funding Cover?

If you wish to fund your online doctoral program, it's important to begin by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Once you've secured enrollment, the university will give you a six-digit Title IV code to complete this application, directly connecting you to federal aid, university stipends, and scholarship options.

You should have no trouble finding accredited online schools that accept FAFSA in South Carolina or almost anywhere in the country. PhD funding covers tuition primarily, but you should also consider ways to pay for other miscellaneous expenses. Doctoral degree programs often require fees for textbooks, equipment and technology, transferring credits, and so forth.

Low-Cost Online Doctoral and PhD Programs in South Carolina

Please consider one of the following affordable online PhD programs in South Carolina. These online doctoral degree programs offer the same academic quality and mentorship given to students who attend in person.

1. South Carolina State University

South Carolina State University (SCSU) offers an online version of its EdD program for students aiming for careers as superintendents, education researchers, education consultants, and other high-paying roles throughout academia. The university accepts credit hours from other programs, provided you complete at least 30 hours at SCSU. This is one of the most affordable programs on this list, which can be made even more affordable by obtaining scholarships and other forms of financial aid.

Average in-state tuition: $552 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $552 per credit hour

Financial aid: SCSU grants several scholarship awards, including generous funding through the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program.

Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

2. College of Charleston

The College of Charleston grants an EdD degree with a specialization in learning and inquiry in practice. Full-time students typically complete the program within three years, whereas part-time students take about five or six years to finish.

The university receives significant support from the South Carolina State Lottery, allowing it to award several scholarships, including one dedicated to teaching fellowships.

Average in-state tuition: $570 per credit hour ($499 for South Carolina teachers)

Average out-of-state tuition: $570 per credit hour

Financial aid: K-12 teachers receive a $71 discount on tuition if they teach in South Carolina. You can also pursue several grant opportunities and funding through department-based scholarships.

Accreditation: CAEP

3. University of South Carolina Upstate

University of South Carolina Upstate offers a DNP program where students can capitalize on the low $572 per credit hour (even if they reside out-of-state) if they enroll online. Future healthcare and public health professionals can acquire valuable leadership skills and sophisticated research methodologies in a program that lasts only two years, comprising 37 credit hours of coursework.

Average in-state tuition: $572 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $572 per credit hour

Financial aid: Nursing students may also qualify for several university scholarships, grants, state scholarships, and Pell Grants.

Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

4. University of South Carolina

The University of South Carolina has a computer science program for PhD students who prefer distance education. It requires 12 credit hours for a dissertation, 13 hours of core courses, 20 hours of electives, 15 hours of other computing or non-computing classes, and PhD qualifying exams.

It is one of the most cost-competitive computer science programs, which you can make even cheaper with the right combination of department scholarships, grant awards, and student employment opportunities.

Average in-state tuition: $572 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $692.25 per credit hour

Financial aid: Low-income students may qualify for the State-Need-Based grant, whereas other graduate students can pursue Federal Pell Grants, and Federal Direct Loans.

Accreditation: Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET

5. Southern Wesleyan University

Southern Wesleyan University offers solid ''church tuition match'' scholarships for students of every level, including online graduate students in its DBA program. This is a flexible and convenient opportunity for distance learning thanks to its shorter seven-week sessions, where students usually graduate within three years of full-time study.

The university also has a ''Post BA discount'' for students who have held their degree for at least a year.

Average in-state tuition: $650 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $650 per credit hour

Financial aid: Southern Wesleyan offers 10 outside scholarship programs through various partnerships. Alumni members also receive solid discounts.

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Explore Online PhD Programs

We invite you to explore everything our website has to offer regarding online PhD programs in every state. You can find online learning resources for bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees � and almost every other academic credential.