Photo: Justin Felder · CC BY-SA 3.0South Carolina State University is 14 miles from Bowman
No college sits inside Bowman’s boundary, but South Carolina State University’s campus in Orangeburg, with 2,870 students on campus, is 14 miles from the center of town, and Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is 15.9 miles away in Orangeburg. About 1% of Bowman’s residents are enrolled in college, below South Carolina (6%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Bowman. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Bowman
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Bowman
One private college within 14.3 miles, and one public college within 14 miles.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $30–48k, where Bowman’s median household income ($35,347) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Bowman: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.
Questions about college near Bowman
Is Bowman a college town?
No. About 1 of every 100 Bowman residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below South Carolina (6). The nearest campus, South Carolina State University, is 14 miles away in Orangeburg.
What colleges are near Bowman?
Within 15 miles: South Carolina State University (14 miles, 2,870 students on campus) and Claflin University (14.3 miles, 1,608).
What is the closest community college to Bowman, and what does it cost?
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College in Orangeburg, 15.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,210 a year for South Carolina residents; the federal net price, $6,186, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does South Carolina State University cost if we live in South Carolina?
Tuition and fees are $11,060 a year in-state and $21,750 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $16,846 (under $30,000 income) to $24,523 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Bowman. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →