Clinton College

Clinton College, a tiny historically Black private institution in Rock Hill, SC, posts an ROI score of 8 -- effectively the floor of the scoring system and a clear warning. The numbers are extreme on every dimension. Median 10-year earnings of $30,180 are below a typical high-school baseline -- the earnings premium is actually negative (-0.105), meaning attending Clinton College is associated with LOWER earnings than not attending college at all on the available data. The modeled payback period is 999 years -- a code value meaning earnings never recoup the cost. Debt-to-earnings sits at 1.57 against median debt of $28,987 -- median debt exceeds 1.5 years of typical earnings. Completion is 14.1%, one of the lowest in the dataset, meaning roughly 1 in 7 starters finishes. The 5-year repayment rate of 17.5% is bottom-decile -- the vast majority of borrowers are not actively servicing loans. Net price of $11,458 is moderate against a $11,136 sticker (nearly identical, indicating thin institutional aid), and Pell rate of 76.8% reflects a very high-need student body. Enrollment is just 126 students. Clinton College has historic and cultural significance as one of the few remaining HBCUs of its type, but on financial-return math the case for attending is essentially absent. Prospective students should weigh this carefully and consider transferring credits to a stronger HBCU like Benedict College or South Carolina State.

Clinton College fits a very narrow profile: a Rock Hill or Catawba region student deeply committed to attending an AME Zion-affiliated HBCU, often Pell-eligible (76.8% Pell), often a place-bound student with significant family or work obligations, who is willing to accept the financial-return tradeoffs. With only 126 enrolled students, classes are tiny and the campus experience is intimate. Strong fits are clear-eyed students who view Clinton as a stepping stone -- a place to find footing before transferring to a larger institution where outcomes are more favorable.