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Presbyterian College is a top ranked Carnegie One Liberal Arts College that offers a state of the art education in the liberal arts and pharmaceutical science programs. The campus grounds are situated amongst many historical buildings on a 240 acre campus. This enables students to develop and strengthen their appreciation for the arts as well as create a serene surrounding for themselves to maintain their study habits. However, Presbyterian College is also well known for the being one of the many colleges located in the town of Clinton, providing convenient accessibility to the mountain ranges, nearby cities and beaches. Students enjoy spending some time off campus at the many attractions to help them stay focused and clear-minded when it comes to their studies.
Presbyterian College offers over 30 majors and course study programs that engage students both intellectually and personally. Each course is designed to encourage students to incorporate their education into their professional and personal lives, which can lead them to excel in any venture they embark on. Courses range from Pre-Professional programs such as environmental sciences, law and medicine to Special emphasis programs that allow students the freedom to experience study abroad programs in over 20 countries.
School History
Presbyterian College indulges students in their long line of history based on the Christian ideals of higher education. Founded in 1880 by Rev. William Plumer Jacobs, then the pastor of Clinton’s own First Presbyterian Church, the Reverend was not a stranger to providing high quality education. Just five years earlier, Rev. Jacobs also founded the Thornwell Orphanage as well. The original intent of Presbyterian College was to educate the orphans to ensure they would not mature to live in poverty stricken states, and remained so for the first ten years or so. It was not until 1890 that the school had been renamed the Presbyterian College of South Carolina, offering both college courses as well as college prep courses for younger students. By 1911, the school began to change the curriculum under the presidency of Dr. Davison M Douglas and went on to receive full accreditation, athletic teams, the ROTC program and continuous additions to the campus make-up. Today there are 5 buildings currently located on campus that were acknowledged by the National Register of Historic Places.
Presbyterian College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
By the end of 1926, Presbyterian College had over 200 students enrolled in their degree programs. Two years later, the school gained the support of the Georgia Presbyterians. During World War II, Presbyterian College converted a large amount of focus on the ROTC program to help support efforts of the war and keep the school open during such rough financial times. During this same time, Presbyterian College became home to Air Force pilots training for combat as well. Since then, Presbyterian College has established doctoral programs, NCAA Division athletics as well as a plethora of other degree programs and courses – all upholding the same values and emphasis on education as created by the early founders. .
Campus Life
The student body at Presbyterian College represents over 25 states and 7 foreign countries, with an equal enrollment of both male and female students. This creates a well rounded atmosphere for students to establish themselves while developing new skills, experiences and being introduced to a more diverse atmosphere. Considering that over 90% of students live on campus, the student body creates a very close-knit community – providing a strong community for the students to study, work and socialize together. The Student Government plays an active role in daily activities at Presbyterian College, as most of the activities are student run and organized. This helps the students to develop strong responsibilities and team work skills that will be essential in their professional lives.
In class, students can appreciate the smaller sized classes, enabling them to receive direct attention from the faculty. The average class size at Presbyterian College is between 13-15 students, which create a more comfortable atmosphere for students to participate in discussions, express their views and ask questions freely. Outside of the classroom there are over 80 clubs and organizations to get involved in such as Greek life, becoming a DJ or guest on the college radio station and even the Ultimate Frisbee club! Presbyterian College students love the outdoors and the staff and faculty do everything they can to provide as many outdoor activities as possible. This includes conducting classes outside when the weather permits!
Living on campus presents students with a wealth of opportunity as they have their choice to reside in one of the residence halls, apartments, town houses or fraternities that are located throughout the campus grounds and outskirts. Presbyterian College encourages students to utilize their college experience to develop relationships and friendships that will last a lifetime. More importantly, campus life is about inspiring each other to succeed.
Financial Aid
Presbyterian College is dedicated to the importance of helping students in obtaining financial aid each semester. The cost of college does not only encumber tuition, but many other facets as well, which can be quite overwhelming for students. At Presbyterian College, Financial Aid Counselors are available to assist students in finding the right financial aid sources that best suit their individual needs. Many first year students are not aware of the limitless resources that may be available to them. Presbyterian College advisors remain available throughout the year to ensure each outlet is explored and students have everything they need before classes begin.
Presbyterian College provides students with many internal financial aid opportunities as well as accepts the more traditional forms of aid such as the NYS TAP loan and FAFSA. Many students are eligible for merit based scholarships upon admission, as well as athletic scholarships offered by Presbyterian. In addition to these options, there are also need based grants that are offered to students who meet the hardship qualifications. Presbyterian College actively maintains an extensive work study program that allows students to obtain employment on and off campus to help alleviate some of the costs associated with the college experience.
