In the 1920s, college life drastically changed for women. The influences of the Progressive Era and the transition from the domestic to public sphere created new opportunities across the country. In the South, however, antebellum plantation ideology continued to influence gender identities, roles, and relations. South Carolina did not connect with the national Progressive movement and many held onto their beliefs in the Old South, which included women’s roles within the household. Four institutions of higher education struggled between concepts of the Old South and new ideas on women in higher education: The University of South Carolina, College of Charleston, Winthrop College for Women, and South Carolina State College. This work will uncover the extracurricular achievements of southern women at these four institutions from 1920 to 1929 and how they dealt with the dual consciousness in respecting their past and working towards improving their future.