Presbyterian College

moodle presbyterian college

First-Rate, Faith-Based Liberal Arts Education at PC

Presbyterian College appears in our ranking of 50 Great Affordable Colleges in the South.

Ranked 127th nationally on the U.S. News & World Report, Presbyterian College is a non-profit, Christian Annapolis Group member in South Carolina that delivers 42 undergrad, nine pre-professional, and two graduate programs at a 12:1 student-faculty ratio. For instance, the Elementary Education B.S. shapes a 122-credit, CAEP-accredited curriculum with student teaching, Maymester trips from Italy to Barbados, and Palmetto State Association membership for 95 percent licensure success. Chaired by Dr. Terry Barr in Neville Hall, the 122-credit English B.A. lets undergrads publish Figs & Thistles, declare a Creative Writing Concentration, and attend the Speaker Series.

Starting October 2019, the Physician Assistant Studies M.S. will build a 112-credit, 24-month track dedicated to 1 Peter 4:10 under Dr. Joe Weber for PANCE exam prep with 5000-level courses like Biomedical Ethics plus four 240-hour preceptorships, such as Greenville Health. Boasting a 94 percent graduation rate, the Pharm.D. follows a 142-credit, four-year plan with APHA-ASP Chapter activities, on-campus Pharmacy Wellness Center practice, and nine-month clinical internships. Other Presbyterian degrees include the Physics B.S., Data Analytics B.S., Religious Studies B.A., Theatre B.A., Sociology B.S., International Studies B.A., Computational Biology B.S., and Economics B.S.

About Presbyterian College

Presbyterian College originated in 1880 when Dr. William Plumer Jacobs opened Clinton College at the First Presbyterian Church for Thornwell Orphanage youth to continue education. In 1900, the South Carolina Synod renamed it Presbyterian College. Formally chartered in 1904, President William G. Neville conferred the first B.A. degrees in 1909 to 58 coeds. In 1915, Presbyterian College architected its present Honor Code. Regionally accredited in 1923, PC barely survived the Great Depression thanks to President John McSween. After World War II, Presbyterian enrollment spiked above 500 for the first time in 1949. PC began admitting residential female students in 1965 and African-American students in 1969. In 1988, legend Arnold Palmer famously designed the Musgrove Mill Golf Club for PC’s varsity team. By 2010, Presbyterian had opened a 54,000-square-foot School of Pharmacy.

Endowed for $90.2 million, Presbyterian College now employs 106 faculty teaching 1,280 Blue Hose at a 47-building Clinton campus 45 minutes outside Greenville with select Moodle courses online and 60+ clubs like Habitat for Humanity. Since 1991, Presbyterian has had sixth CASE South Carolina Professor of the Year Award recipients. In 2018, PC’s Kappa Alpha Order earned the Samuel Z. Ammen Award for Chapter Excellence. The Alpha Psi Chapter won the 2016 Grand Senior President’s Cup too. Forbes named Presbyterian the 299th best college and 102nd top liberal arts school. On Niche, PC has America’s 130th best history, 156th top political science, and 159th best English degrees. Money magazine declared Presbyterian College the 456th best value with average mid-career pay of $97,100. WalletHub also recognized PC for the 108th most faculty resources and 269th best education outcomes.

Presbyterian College Accreditation Details

On December 7, 2017, Presbyterian College announced that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) voted to accept the Quality Enhancement Plan and reaffirm the Level V accreditation through 2027 under President Bob Emmett Staton, who received the Order of the Palmetto. Headquartered 179 miles west via Route 72 in Decatur, Georgia, this elite 11-state Southeast Region accreditor is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and South Carolina Department of Education. The PC Academic Affairs Office also lists the following accreditations:

  • Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation
  • Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
  • National Association of Schools of Music
  • Accreditation Review Commission on Education for Physician Assistants (candidacy)

Presbyterian College Application Requirements

Picking Presbyterian College is considered “very difficult” by Peterson’s because only 1,434 of the 2,277 Fall 2017 applicants were selected for competitive 63 percent acceptance. First-year Blue Hose must verify the completion of a 16-unit, college-prep high school curriculum or the GED certificate. Most freshmen rank in the upper 25th percentile of their class with a median 3.52 GPA. Mid-range testing scores were 1010-1220 for the SAT and 22-28 for the ACT. Bachelor’s majors with GPAs above 3.25 can pursue test-optional admission. One exception is for international students needing a 6.0 IELTS, 80 TOEFL iBT, or 112 ELS mark. The Physician Assistant Studies M.S. demands a science bachelor’s degree with cumulative GPAs above 3.2. Seven prerequisites, such as Organic Chemistry and Genetics, are checked. At least 250 hours of clinical healthcare experience are mandated. Pharm.D. cohorts similarly have 13 prerequisites from English to Calculus that must be graded “C” or better. Post-grads also need GRE or PCAT scores in the top 50th percentile.

Presbyterian College set freshman deadlines of December 1st for Early Action and February 1st for Regular Decision. Prospective B.A./B.S. transfers follow priority deadlines of July 1st for Fall and November 15th for Spring enrollment. The Physician Assistant Studies M.S. closes on March 1st each year. Pharm.D. cohorts must apply before May 1st. Accordingly, complete the paperless PC, Common, or Coalition Application online for free. Forward official transcripts to 307 North Broad Street in Clinton, SC 29325. Supplemental checklist items include the standardized test score, ZeeMee profile, current résumé, two short-answer responses, art/music portfolio, two recommendations, passport photocopy, and financial statement form. Learn more by contacting (800) 476-7272 or [email protected].

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2018-19, Presbyterian College charged full-time bachelor’s tuition of $17,900 each term or $35,800 annually. Undergrads paid a $2,210 general fee and $650 technology fee yearly. Incoming freshmen covered a $400 deposit. Living at the Clinton campus’ dorms like Grotnes Hall added $5,100 each year. All-access meal plans for Springs Food Court were $5,380 extra. PC budgeted $1,000 to $3,700 for indirect expenses, including books. Annual undergrad attendance equaled about $52,840 on-site or $42,360 if commuting. The Physician Assistant Studies M.S. bills Year 1 tuition of $52,594 and Year 2 tuition of $36,656. School of Pharmacy students spend $18,605 per semester and $37,110 yearly with $1,576 fees.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid at Patrick Center links 89 percent of full-time PC Blue Hose to tuition assistance averaging $31,662 apiece for $29.88 million combined. Institutional funds include the Laurens County Scholarship, Alumni Referral Scholarship, Emerging Church Leader Scholarship, Griffith Scholarship, Music Scholarship, Palmetto Boys and Girls State Scholarship, ROTC Scholarship, Jerman Dissa Scholarship, and Athletic Scholarship. The Presbyterian College Grant has a March 1st deadline for need-based support. Since 1946, the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation has provided scholarships for Christian women at 200 Southern schools like Presbyterian. FAFSA applications coded 003445 determine Federal Pell Grant, SEOG Grant, Teach Grant, Direct Loan, and Work-Study Award qualifications. South Carolinians meeting the 1200 SAT or 27 ACT minimum qualify for the $7,500 Palmetto Fellows Scholarship. The LIFE Scholarship also gifts $5,000 yearly to South Carolina residents with GPAs above 3.0.

Search the 21 accredited departments for 50+ Christian degrees placed 28th by Washington Monthly on the Presbyterian College website.