Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina · Public · 22.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 85/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
The Citadel Military College of South Carolina scores 85 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale, driven by a 6.0-year payback period, $44,700 average 6-year earnings, a 75.0% completion rate, and a 0.472 debt-to-earnings ratio. The strongest programs by earnings are Electrical Engineering (22 graduates, $72,726 year-one, $88,869 four-year, ROI grade B) and Computer and Information Sciences (20 graduates, $71,213 year-one, ROI grade B+). Civil Engineering (38 graduates, $61,163 year-one, $81,055 four-year, ROI grade B) and Mechanical Engineering (69 graduates, $52,602 year-one, $83,912 four-year, ROI grade B) add volume to the engineering pipeline. Intelligence and Command Control Operations (103 graduates) is the highest-volume program, a field directly tied to military and government career pathways. The Citadel's 10-year median earnings of $72,085 significantly outpace the six-year figure, reflecting the career progression typical of military officers and defense-sector professionals.
Citadel Military College of South Carolina scores in the top 9% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $12,570/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $38,508/yr |
| Average net price | $20,723/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $82,892 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $72,085 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $44,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,096 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $224 |
| Estimated payback period | 6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 75.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,705 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $12,570/year ($38,508/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $20,723/year, or roughly $82,892 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $15,430/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,047/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,096, which works out to about $224 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($44,700) and comes to 0.47, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $15,430 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,456 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,140 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,620 |
| $110,001+ | $24,047 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students in the 0-30000 income bracket pay $15,430 net price per year - approximately $61,720 over four years. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $16,456. The 75% completion rate means most students who enter the Corps will finish, reducing the risk of debt without a credential. Low-income students who commission as military officers can expect starting salaries well above the $44,700 six-year average.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $18,140 per year; the 75001-110000 bracket pays $20,620. Middle-income families can expect a 6.0-year payback period from the institutional median, with faster payback for engineering and CS graduates.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $24,047 per year - roughly $96,000 all-in over four years. At a 6.0-year payback period and $44,700 average six-year earnings, the financial case holds even for full-pay families, particularly for engineering and business graduates who track above the institutional median. The Citadel's 10-year median of $72,085 - well above the six-year figure - reflects the career earnings trajectory that the military and defense sectors enable.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Citadel Military College of South Carolina with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | $42,362 | C |
| Mechanical Engineering | $83,912 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $65,574 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $66,934 | C+ |
| Civil Engineering | $81,055 | B |
| International Relations | $68,504 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $73,116 | C+ |
| Electrical Engineering | $88,869 | B |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $71,213 | B+ |
| History | $64,869 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering is The Citadel's highest-volume strong-ROI program: 69 graduates, $52,602 year-one, $83,912 at four years, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.371 (ROI grade B). The four-year trajectory to $84k reflects both career progression and the salary lift from military officer pathways available to many graduates. Median debt of $19,500 keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio manageable. ME graduates entering the defense industrial base or private sector engineering roles drive the four-year figure above the institutional average.
Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering produces 38 graduates with $61,163 year-one earnings and $81,055 at four years, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.401 (ROI grade B). The year-one figure is strong for a regional public, reflecting that civil engineering completers are employment-ready and credentialed for licensed professional engineering pathways. Median debt of $24,500 keeps the ratio in B-grade territory. Infrastructure and defense contracting sectors both draw Citadel civil engineers.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering has 22 graduates with $72,726 year-one earnings and $88,869 at four years - the highest year-one earnings in the program data. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.371 (ROI grade B). The $72k year-one figure positions EE completers well above the $44,700 institutional average from the first year of employment. This is a small program by volume but delivers the strongest immediate earnings return in The Citadel's catalog.
Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations
Intelligence and Command Control Operations is The Citadel's largest program by graduates at 103. Year-one earnings of $42,362 are moderate, and the four-year figure is not reported in Scorecard data. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.626 (ROI grade C) reflects the federal government and defense-sector salaries that characterize early-career employment in this field. Military officers in intelligence careers can expect significant salary progression after the six-year Scorecard window, which this static data does not capture.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 77.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 84.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 75.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 78.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Citadel Military College of South Carolina’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 22.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 545-645 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 540-640 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-27 |
| Enrollment | 2,705 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 19.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,071 |
At 22.7%, The Citadel's admission rate reflects both academic and character-based screening. SAT mid-ranges (545-645 Math, 540-640 Reading) and ACT 22-27 indicate a moderately selective academic profile. The military commitment and Corps of Cadets requirement serve as an additional self-selection filter - students who apply and are admitted have typically already weighed the lifestyle commitment. Academic preparation in math and science is particularly important for students targeting engineering or CS programs.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The Citadel (ROI 85) delivers a strong-value score that reflects its military structure's effect on completion and career placement.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citadel Military College of South Carolina (this school) | 85 | $20,723 | $72,085 |
| Clemson University | 86 | $22,253 | $71,513 |
| Charter Oak State College | 77 | $15,815 | $64,209 |
| University of Arkansas Grantham | 69 | $8,370 | $63,496 |
| Miami University-Hamilton | 62 | $11,286 | $55,076 |
| College of Charleston | 57 | $18,960 | $56,416 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Citadel Military College of South Carolina side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
The Citadel admits 22.7% of applicants. Enrollment is 2,705. SAT mid-ranges are 545-645 Math and 540-640 Reading; ACT composite 22-27. The institution requires participation in the Corps of Cadets and the structured military lifestyle is a genuine cultural filter - students who thrive in disciplined, regimented environments and who are interested in military commissions, defense careers, or leadership-focused professions are the target population. Students seeking a conventional college experience will find The Citadel a poor fit regardless of financial metrics.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Citadel Military College of South Carolina pays off. You'd pay about $20,723 a year after aid ($82,892 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $72,085 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 75.0% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $21,096 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $44,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Citadel Military College of South Carolina: Common Questions
Is Citadel Military College of South Carolina worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Citadel Military College of South Carolina pays off. It scores 85/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $20,723 a year after aid ($82,892 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $72,085 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6 years to earn back.
How much does Citadel Military College of South Carolina cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $20,723 a year, or roughly $82,892 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Citadel Military College of South Carolina graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $72,085 ten years after enrolling, roughly $30,285 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Citadel Military College of South Carolina?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 6 years for Citadel Military College of South Carolina. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Citadel Military College of South Carolina graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,096, against average earnings of $44,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Citadel Military College of South Carolina?
The six-year graduation rate is 75.0%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.