Coker University
Hartsville, South Carolina · Private Nonprofit · 94.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 13/100 · Poor Value
Coker University earns a CampusROI score of 13 out of 100, near the bottom of the Poor Value tier. The Hartsville, South Carolina private liberal-arts college charges a high sticker tuition of $33,416 and discounts heavily; net price after aid is $20,286, with four-year cost still landing at $81,144. The earnings premium of 6.3% over high-school-only peers is among the lowest in this batch, the payback period clocks in at 43.2 years, and the 0.89 debt-to-earnings ratio against $26,000 in median federal debt produces a sub-score of 9. Median earnings six years after entry are $29,300 and reach $40,117 by year ten. The 39.5% completion rate is below average, and the 47.1% repayment rate is genuinely concerning, signaling that more than half of borrowers are not actively reducing principal. Every reported major-level program at Coker carries a D or F ROI grade. The school's reported data does not present a defensible borrowing case for most students, even after the substantial discount off sticker tuition. Coker is a small Division II athletic destination and serves a meaningful share of student-athletes; the school's value proposition is strongest for those who attend on athletic scholarship rather than borrow.
The data raises concerns about Coker University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score13/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate39.5% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period43.2 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Coker University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $33,416/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $33,416/yr |
| Average net price | $20,286/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $81,144 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $40,117 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $29,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $276 |
| Estimated payback period | 43.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 39.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 840 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Coker University is $33,416/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $20,286/year, or roughly $81,144 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $16,789/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,160/year.
The median graduate leaves with $26,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $276 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $40,117 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.89 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
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 | $16,789 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,138 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,227 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,421 |
| $110,001+ | $24,160 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 face an average net price of $16,789 per year, totaling roughly $67,200 across four years. With ten-year median earnings of $40,117, this requires significant borrowing to close the gap and the math does not pencil out without strong scholarship support.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001 to $48,000 bracket actually pays slightly less at $15,138 per year, the lowest cost on the page, suggesting institutional aid is concentrated at this lower-middle income tier. The $48,001 to $75,000 bracket steps up to $18,227 and the $75,001 to $110,000 bracket jumps to $24,421. Four-year totals for upper-middle brackets approach $97,700.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $24,160 per year, slightly less than the $75K-$110K bracket above them, a mild inversion. Four-year cost is roughly $96,600. At this price tier, families should weigh Coker carefully against Anderson University, USC Aiken, or Coastal Carolina alternatives where the in-state public price plus stronger completion outcomes deliver dramatically better risk-adjusted ROI.
Earnings by Major
Top 6 most popular majors at Coker University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $47,785 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $44,706 | D |
| Psychology | $46,921 | F |
| Business Administration and Management | $60,372 | D |
| Political Science and Government | $41,738 | F |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $21,574 | F |
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.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business is the largest reported program with 29 graduates per cohort. Year-one earnings of $39,118 climb to $47,785 by year four. With $31,646 in median debt (notably higher than the school average), the 0.81 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a D ROI grade. The earnings trajectory is respectable for a small SC private, but the debt load undercuts the return.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology graduates 25 students per cohort, making it the second-largest program. Year-one earnings of $28,319 rise to $44,706 by year four. With $26,475 in debt, the 0.94 ratio earns a D ROI grade. As at most schools, kinesiology only delivers durable earnings when paired with PT, OT, or athletic-training graduate study.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 18 students per cohort with year-one earnings of $25,870 climbing to $46,921 by year four. Median debt is $31,933 (notably higher than peer programs at the school), producing a 1.23 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F ROI grade. The four-year earnings trajectory is reasonable, but the high debt load combined with weak year-one earnings creates serious early-career repayment strain.
Business Administration and Management
A second business track shows year-one earnings of $30,285 climbing to $60,372 by year four. With $27,000 in debt, the 0.89 ratio earns a D ROI grade. The four-year trajectory is the strongest at the school and suggests this version of the business curriculum may serve students entering management-track roles in regional Carolinas employers.
Political Science and Government
Political Science graduates 11 students per cohort with year-one earnings of $25,862 rising to $41,738 by year four. Median debt of $30,000 produces a 1.16 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F ROI grade. The pre-law and government-career path requires graduate study to deliver returns; standalone, this credential at this debt level does not pencil out.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 41.5% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 47.1% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 50.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 52.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 94.0% |
| Enrollment | 840 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 25.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,977 |
Coker admits 94.0% of applicants, an essentially open-admissions posture. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported, consistent with a test-optional small private liberal-arts college. The combination of near-universal admit rate and the 39.5% completion rate suggests many admitted students arrive without academic preparation or motivation to finish.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peer schools include Allen University, Anderson University-SC, Brewton-Parker College, Maharishi International University, and Philander Smith University. Anderson University-SC is the strongest peer, a similarly sized SC private with notably better financial outcomes thanks to stronger nursing and health-science programs. Allen University, Brewton-Parker College, and Philander Smith University are all small private religious-affiliated colleges with similar weak ROI profiles. Maharishi International is structurally different. Among the closest peers, Coker outperforms Allen and Brewton-Parker but trails Anderson on most metrics.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coker University (this school) | 13 | $20,286 | $40,117 |
| Anderson University | 24 | $23,544 | $42,101 |
| Brewton-Parker College | 13 | $26,054 | $42,009 |
| Maharishi International University | 12 | $14,956 | $27,981 |
| Philander Smith University | 10 | $14,224 | $38,427 |
| Allen University | 3 | $10,972 | $30,497 |
Who Thrives Here
Coker serves about 840 students with a 25.7% Pell rate, lower than typical SC private nonprofits and reflecting a student body skewing toward middle-income families and Division II student-athletes. The fit case is most concentrated for athletic-scholarship recipients and students drawn to the small-college academic environment who can fund attendance largely without borrowing. The 47.1% repayment rate is the most concerning signal in the data: it suggests typical borrowers struggle and prospective borrowers should weigh that risk hard.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Coker University. With a net cost of $20,286 per year and median graduate earnings of only $40,117 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 43.2 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 39.5% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $26,000 against $40,117 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
New analyses, updated school profiles, and tools - when there’s something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.