5 Best College Towns in South Carolina for an Exciting Retirement

The 5 Best College Towns in South Carolina for Your Retirement

            South Carolina has plenty to offer as a retirement destination.  Northerners may be looking forward to thawing out earlier in the year, while those from the Deep South may be looking forward to four distinct seasons.  Nearly everyone moving to South Carolina appreciates the low cost of living and the high quality of life.  Many retirees have found another one of South Carolina’s allures, charming towns with colleges that provide an exciting retirement environment.  A college town’s mix of youthful energy, academic achievement, and cultural stimulation is instantly appealing, and a great number of older people are finding out, it’s not just for the young, but also for the young at heart.

            From the cobblestone streets, to the gas lights glowing in front of antebellum homes, it’s hard not to fall in love with Charleston.  Charleston has a strong economy, with the fourth busiest port in the nation, and a great medical care system.  The College of Charleston’s 9,700 students make up the largest portion of the undergraduate pie, with Trident Technical College following with nearly 6,000 students.  There are a few other schools with approximately 2,000 students each, including Citadel Military University, the Medical University of South Carolina, and Charleston Southern University.  The College of Charleston has two programs for seniors:  a Center for Creative Retirement, similar to the program found in Asheville, NC (see our North Carolina College Town Retirement article for details), and the Elderhostel Program.  The Center for Creative Retirement is a member led organization with weekly lectures, discussion groups, educational tours, social activities, and other programs to stimulate interest, without the participants having to worry about assignments and grades.  The Center also helps newcomers understand more about Charleston by providing informative history lectures on the area and its people.  Visit www.cofc.edu/visitors/CCR.html for more information.  The Elderhostel Program is a non-profit, fee based organization that organizes experiential based learning and travel activities for older adults.  Fees are charged on a trip by trip basis, and you can participate in whatever seems appealing to you.  The South Carolina trip spends 6 days exploring the history of the city, perfect for resident and newcomer alike.  Find out more at www.elderhostel.org.  There are plenty of trips around the U.S. and further, if you have a taste of adventure.  When you travel with Elderhostel you can feel confident you’ll be taken care of, and be surrounded by like-minded people.

            Heading up the coast, our next town is one you may not have heard of before, Conway.  Set just about 16 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach, Conway is a great town for retirees.  The cost of living is remarkably cheap, for its close proximity to the beach.  Residents of Conway can also worry less about seasonal hurricanes, as their inland location takes some of the force out of the storms.   Conway has its own hospital, located in town, as well as being located 156 miles from Myrtle Beach’s facilities.  The town of Conway, located along the Waccamaw River, with a population of around 13,500 people, is showing strong signs of growth.  Coastal Carolina University is located in Conway, and with over 4,000 students is an integral part of the community.  Seniors can find courses in the Lifelong Learners catalog.  Some examples of summer courses included, watercolors, an eBay buying and selling course, a night-walk on Waties Island looking for turtles, and investing in retirement.  The courses run anywhere from one session to multiple classes.  For more information you can visit: www.coastal.edu/outreach/conway.html.

            Columbia may be known as the state’s capital, but it is also home to a number of colleges.  The largest, with an enrollment of about 20,000 students is the University of South Carolina at Columbia.  Other colleges in Columbia include, Midlands Technical College, with about 6,000 students, and Benedict College, with about 3,000 students.  Now, because of the size of the city of Columbia, many people won’t consider it your quintessential college town.  But, with around 30,000 students in Columbia, you’ll certainly have plenty of opportunities to get in the classroom.  USC Columbia is your best bet for continuing your education in your retirement.  The Continuing Education Department can be found at http://ced.sc.edu, and has many options for older learners.  There are non-credit certificate programs, online courses you may take from the comfort of your home, and the traditional curriculum which is open to students of all ages, whether you are pursuing a degree or not.  If you want to live in a college town for the events it provides, Columbia is a great place to choose.  USC Columbia has competitive teams playing football, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, and more.  USC’s football program is one of the best in the nation, consistently fielding great teams and sending players onto the NFL.  There are concerts ranging from a cappella groups to piano or guitar masters recitals.  The University continuously has a massage therapist on staff, as well as cholesterol screenings, and an open door drop in center for medical concerns.  While the Unversity won’t replace your doctor, it’s nice to know there’s another place to turn to for advice.

            For your classic definition of a college town, head up into the mountains, and visit Clemson.  Home of Clemson University and the orange covered Clemson Tigers football team, with their rabid fans, come football season you’ll be in the midst of some of the best collegiate football the country has to offer.  The town of Clemson is small, encompassing the school’s campus, a main street and a few other small streets.  Offerings for nightlife and restaurants in town are somewhat limited, but do show a cosmopolitan flair suited to a college town.  For more options you can take a short drive over to Seneca, which is a growing town near the banks of Lake Keowee.  Greenville is only 45 minutes away, so you won’t be too far from the airport and more options for shopping, dining, and entertainment.  Residents of the Clemson area are lucky, as the college hosts a branch of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI).  OLLI centers can be found across the country, and focus on enhancing the social, recreational, and educational development of elder citizens.  It is a membership based group, with nominal fees for a wide range of classes.  Offerings include, hiking, yoga, Buddhism, grandkids, poetry, and religion.  One time events are also offered covering topics such as scuba diving, gardening, and photography.  If you want to take regular courses at the college, you can have access to the full catalog by applying as a non-degree seeking student.

            Greenville has a total of around 13,000 students, spread out in three colleges.  They are Greenville Technical College, Bob Jones University, and Furman University.  Downtown Greenville is a tree lined, walkable area, perfect for newcomers and long time residents alike.  There are plenty of options for shopping, dining, and nightlife.  With the Greenville area experiencing rapid growth, now is a great time for retirees to research the area.

The largest college in Greenville is Greenville Technical College, with about 6,000 students, followed by Bob Jones University, which has about 3,500 students, and Furman University, which accounts for about 3,000 students.  Greenville Technical College has a continuing education department which has a number of vocational based courses such as computer and business, or healthcare courses.  There are also lifestyle courses such as floral design or interior design.  If you’ve been wanted to stretch out your creative side in retirement, this is a great place to get a good footing.

Bob Jones University is a great place for events and cultural happenings.  There are art exhibits, bible conferences (it is a Christian college), plays, and plenty more.  Bob Jones also has a nice continuing education department with a variety of computer classes, digital photography courses, scripture study, and health and fitness classes to keep you in shape between courses.

Furman University steals the show when it comes to community involvement.  Make a quick visit to their website at, www.furman.edu, and use the left sidebar option titled, “Upcountry Community,” to see the huge variety of activities involved with the community.  There is the Furman Golf Club, a hiring service that places undergraduates with residents needing help with a job, and a great continuing education department coordinated by the Furman University Learning in Retirement (FULIR) division.  FULIR is associated with the Elderhostel program mentioned above in our Charleston section, and provides a safe, enjoyable learning environment for seniors.  Furman University even has its own continuing care retirement center, called The Woodlands at Furman.  Furman’s continuing education department homepage is www.furman.edu/conted/index.htm.

Choosing any of these South Carolina college towns for retirement, is a great idea.  If you want to stay active and stimulated, there’s no better way than to surround yourself with the excitement of youth.  Cities like Charleston and Columbia will give you access to colleges, as well as a full range of city entertainments, while places like Clemson and Conway are a bit more laid back.  Greenville is a great mix of the two, although that may change in the next ten years, as the city grows.  No matter your preference in size and pace, staying active is the key to a successful and enjoyable retirement.  Good luck in your search!

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