Winthrop University to expand beyond Rock Hill, as new campus joins historic site
Winthrop University is expanding into Fort Mill, marking the town’s first time having a higher learning institution within its borders.
Officials from Fort Mill and the Rock Hill-based public university signed an agreement Friday afternoon to work toward a new Fort Mill campus. Financial details haven’t been determined, but the new site is expected to be operational in fall 2027.
It’ll have programs for pre-K, high school and adult learners.
“We really struck gold with this,” said Fort Mill Mayor Guynn Savage.
Details on the Winthrop campus in Fort Mill
The new campus at 123 N. White St. is beside Fort Mill Town Hall.
The town bought both former Springs Industries buildings two years ago for nearly $23 million. Winthrop University Fort Mill Campus will take up some of the more than 64,000-square-foot historic building.
The campus could be close to 4,000 square feet, Winthrop Board of Trustees Chairman Joel Hamilton told the Herald. Expansion into Fort Mill has been part of the university’s strategic plan for several years, he said.
It opens access to high-growth Fort Mill but also brings Winthrop closer to Charlotte and the economic development opportunities the school wants to grow.
The Fort Mill campus will have three parts. One is an early childhood lab school, similar to the Macfeat program in Rock Hill. Macfeat is the longest-running lab school of its kind in the country, according to Winthrop.
A second component of the campus will be for dual enrollment classes. High school students in Fort Mill will be able to enroll in classes at the main campus in Rock Hill this fall, similar to programs for students in the Rock Hill district. Students are able to earn college credits through that program while still in high school.
When the Fort Mill campus opens, options will be expanded options there. There may also be summer classes.
The third part of the Fort Mill campus is for advanced degrees.
A graduate degree program will be housed entirely in Fort Mill, with classes for other options to support main campus programs. Pop-up classes for adults are likely on items like financial literacy, AI and nutrition. Certificates for specific industries or careers are an option, too.
Just last week Winthrop announced plans to serve as a tech hub in South Carolina to support workforce development. While that hub will go on the main campus in Rock Hill, the Fort Mill campus can help connect companies and workers in need of specialized training, too.
“Here, a little bit closer to Charlotte and just north of the river, Fort Mill and Winthrop are about to build something truly special,” said Winthrop Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Sebastian van Delden.
This story was originally published May 1, 2026 at 2:30 PM.