Photo: Bill Fitzpatrick · CC BY-SA 3.0Gaffney is home to Limestone University
Limestone University (1,139 students on campus) is inside the city. About 12% of Gaffney’s residents are enrolled in college, above 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 Gaffney. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Gaffney
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Gaffney
Two private colleges within 12 miles. The nearest public four-year college, University of South Carolina-Upstate, is 18.3 miles away.
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 and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $30–48k, where Gaffney’s median household income ($41,089) 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: 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 in Gaffney
Is Gaffney a college town?
No. About 12 of every 100 Gaffney residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above South Carolina (6). The largest campus in the city, Limestone University, has 1,139 students on campus.
What colleges are in Gaffney?
Limestone University is inside the city. Spartanburg Methodist College is 19.3 miles away in Spartanburg.
What is the closest community college to Gaffney, and what does it cost?
Spartanburg Methodist College in Spartanburg, 19.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $20,650 a year for South Carolina residents; the federal net price, $14,580, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of South Carolina-Upstate cost if we live in South Carolina?
Tuition and fees are $11,588 a year in-state and $23,090 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,618 (under $30,000 income) to $19,325 (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 Gaffney. 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 →