Erskine College
Due West, South Carolina · Private Nonprofit · 62.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 45/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Erskine College is a small private nonprofit liberal arts college affiliated with the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Due West, South Carolina, enrolling approximately 766 students. It earns an overall ROI score of 45 - Below Average Value - reflecting a difficult financial profile. The 45% completion rate is below the median for private liberal arts colleges, and median six-year earnings of $33,400 are modest for a private college with a net price of $16,525. The payback period of 11.2 years is longer than most public alternatives in South Carolina. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.81 is the sharpest financial concern, earning a subscore of 14 - graduates carry $27,000 in median debt against earnings that make that debt challenging to service in the early career years. The 74% three-year repayment rate suggests most graduates who borrow are making progress, but the margin is tighter than typical. Erskine's strengths are its small size, Presbyterian identity, and community culture that attracts students seeking a faith-integrated residential experience not available at larger institutions. Business Administration is the only tracked program with meaningful data, and its outcomes are weak on a financial basis.
Erskine College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $36,710/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $36,710/yr |
| Average net price | $16,525/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $66,100 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $53,459 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 45.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 766 |
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: $36,710/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $16,525/year, or roughly $66,100 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 $14,555/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,942/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $27,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $53,459 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.81, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
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 | $14,555 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,666 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,652 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,405 |
| $110,001+ | $18,942 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from families earning under $30,000 face a net price of $14,555. At this level, the financial risk is concentrated in the completion rate: students who withdraw before earning a degree carry debt without the credential that would justify it. Low-income Pell-eligible students in South Carolina should compare this offer carefully against Winthrop University, Francis Marion University, or the University of South Carolina's Palmetto College, which deliver comparable or stronger outcomes at public tuition rates.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income students ($30,001 - $48,000) see Erskine's lowest net price bracket at $12,666 - a possible reflection of targeted institutional aid at this income tier. At this price, the 11.2-year payback period and D-grade business program require careful consideration. Students in this bracket who complete the degree and enter South Carolina's business market face a manageable if not exceptional financial outcome.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income students ($110,000-plus) pay approximately $18,942 in net price - one of the higher tiers, suggesting limited additional aid at this income level. Families with means to choose broadly should weigh whether Erskine's faith-affiliated residential environment is worth the premium over South Carolina's public university options, which deliver stronger earnings outcomes and lower net prices.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at Erskine College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $54,921 | D |
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 Administration is the only program at Erskine with sufficient graduates (58 annually) to generate reliable outcome data. One-year median earnings of $35,695 and four-year earnings of $54,921 are below the national median for business graduates. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76 earns a D grade - not the strongest financial return for a $66,000 four-year net cost. Students committed to Erskine's faith environment who plan for regional South Carolina employment in management or sales are the most realistic target for this program.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.1% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 74.4% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 76.1% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 82.7% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Erskine College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
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 | 62.7% |
| Enrollment | 766 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 46.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,645 |
Erskine admitted 63% of applicants, with no published standardized test score ranges. The college's religious mission and small size mean the applicant pool is self-selecting among students aligned with its Presbyterian values. Financial aid is critical to the enrollment decision; the $36,710 list tuition drops to a net price of $16,525 on average, but individual aid packages vary significantly. Students should compare net price offers from Erskine against other South Carolina private colleges before committing.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Erskine's peers include Agnes Scott College, Anderson University SC, and Briar Cliff University - all small, faith-affiliated colleges in the Southeast or Midwest. Anderson University SC, also in South Carolina and Christian-affiliated, offers a direct regional comparison with a stronger completion rate and broader program portfolio. Agnes Scott, a women's college in Atlanta, draws a different applicant profile but is similarly small and faith-connected. Within this peer group, Erskine's financial metrics are in the lower half, making it most compelling for students specifically aligned with its Presbyterian tradition.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erskine College (this school) | 45 | $16,525 | $53,459 |
| Maranatha Baptist University | 47 | $26,005 | $45,593 |
| Gordon College | 46 | $24,883 | $52,119 |
| Lubbock Christian University | 46 | $24,456 | $53,787 |
| Spring Arbor University | 45 | $19,353 | $51,732 |
| Union Adventist University | 43 | $23,716 | $55,045 |
Who Thrives Here
Erskine is designed for students seeking a tight-knit, faith-integrated liberal arts experience in a rural South Carolina setting. The 63% admission rate is moderately selective for a small college in its tier. With 47% of students receiving Pell Grants, the institution serves a substantial share of lower-income students. Students who thrive here prioritize campus community, religious integration in academics, and close student-faculty relationships. The financial data demands honest engagement: students should enter with a clear career plan and financial support structure given the low completion rate.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Erskine College is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $16,525 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $53,459 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.2 years to earn the cost back - slower than most four-year schools. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: its 45.2% graduation rate, high debt relative to what graduates earn.
Median debt of $27,000 against $53,459 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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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.