The Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina established Morris College in 1908 to serve the needs of the African-American community in rural parts of the state. In the first two decades, the school was little more than an elementary and secondary school despite its name as a college. In 1915, twelve black teachers taught a total of 160 students. Approximately 40 of the students boarded at the school. Most of the secondary level students took college and teacher preparatory classes rather than industrial or agricultural courses, which were almost totally de-emphasized. The original normal school was discontinued in 1929, and the elementary school was likewise eliminated in 1930.

For two years Morris College functioned as a junior college only, but a full four-year program was established in 1933. The high school was formally discontinued in 1946. It was not until 1961 that Morris College opened its doors to all ethnic groups. Today, Morris College remains affiliated with the Baptist Church and serves over 700 largely African-American students. The principle majors and most popular areas of study are business administration, sociology, and criminal justice administration. Morris College is located on 33 acres and is a blend of buildings from the 1920s and the 1980s. The town of Sumter has a population of just over 45,000. Initially teacher education and certification were primary goals of this HBCU College. Today it is a fully accredited, four-year, coeducational, liberal arts college awarding a wide variety of baccalaureate degrees.
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A school for the newly emancipated people, founded in 1870 as the Benedict Institute by the American Baptist Home Mission Society and named for Bathsheba A. Benedict of Rhode Island, who provided $13,000 for its establishment. Established to train teachers and ministers, the school expanded its curriculum in 1894, chartered it as a liberal arts college, and changed its name to Benedict College. Not until 1930, however, did Benedict have an African-American president. The college continues to be affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Education and Missionary Convention and the American Baptist Churches, USA. The school offers 25 major areas of study to its approximately 3,000 students.
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