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The results are in in the new U.S. News & World Report Top 10 Best States report and South Carolina ranks mostly in the bottom half of the list in all categories.
The report reflects what citizens value most in their states, so categories included: health care, education, crime, infrastructure, opportunity, economy, and government.
South Carolina ranked 45 out of 50 overall. Here's how our state ranked from worst to best in each of the categories:
Education - #50
Opportunity - #48
Infrastructure - #43
Crime - #41
Health Care - #39
Government - #32
Economy - #16
South Carolina ranked dead last in Education with only 36% of the state being college educated. There were subcategories within the Education bracket and our state ranked #44 in Higher Education. We were ranked #13 in the 4-Year College Graduation Rate, which was close to the top, but we are also #43 in Tuition and Fees for a 4-year public college.
The reports also shows that just over 25% of high school students are actually prepared for college. This category was based on students being able to meet the ACT benchmarks.
As far as our best ranking goes, Economy ranked close to the Top 10 mark, but the subcategory rankings varied. Growth in South Carolina ranks at #9, meaning that GDP growth and Net Migration is doing well. Employment in South Carolina ranked #29 and the Business Environment was right behind it at #3.
No southern states made it into the Top 10 ranking, but South Carolina only ranked higher than New Mexico, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana coming in at #50 overall.
Thanks for the info. I know it to be true. North Carolina and Virginia both much nicer states. Virginia ranked #20 and North Carolina #22. Once my children get older and I retire (10 years) (younger retirement law enforcement mandatory) I will look at moving
Agree this belongs in the main forum, but regardless, is this a surprise? SC has always had these issues, unfortunately, and state rankings have always been all over the place. Our urban areas are really good, but our rural areas are really, really terrible. None of the transplants that are bringing their better lifestyles are moving there, and the natives are finding no upward mobility.
Rankings are subjective anyway. If you live your life in a Charleston, Columbia, Greenville bubble, then it doesn't feel like you live in the "5th worst state." California may be considered the state most people fantasize living in, but that fantasy is the Pacific Coast/Hollywood Hills/Golden Gate bubble. No one is fantasizing about Bakersfield and Fresno.
NC is the same way. Charlotte and Raleigh couldn't be anymore on fire and modern, but if you live in Lumberton or Rocky Mount or along 95, then you might as well be in another state.
I do wish we would elect officials who would fix these issues and do more than try to land manufacturers, and pressure them on these issues, and our infrastructure, but it is what it is. And as hyper partisan as the whole country has become, it'll probably stay status quo for a while.
Thanks for the info. I know it to be true. North Carolina and Virginia both much nicer states. Virginia ranked #20 and North Carolina #22. Once my children get older and I retire (10 years) (younger retirement law enforcement mandatory) I will look at moving
Coastal NC and VA are not contributing to their rankings. Coastal NC is about as backwoods as it gets. What’s pulling VA and NC up is DC and Charlotte. That being said, I’d rather pull my own fingernails out than live in the DC metro, I don’t care how it ranks.
Currently you’re living in one of the best ranking metros, so as far as rankings go, you’re wanting to move to lower ranked metro over a higher one. Rather than choosing to be miserable for the next 10 years, start appreciating what you do have.
Why is education tied to a 4 year degree? Why are we in a mind set that the only path to success is through college?
Yea, I thought that was odd. That’s the mindset that’s landed half the country in student debt making the same money they would have made if they went straight into the workforce.
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