Lander University
Greenwood, South Carolina · Public · 81.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 22/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Lander University scores 22 (Below Benchmark) on the CampusROI scale, driven by a 27.2-year payback period, $31,400 average 6-year earnings, and a 49.8% completion rate - meaning roughly half of students who enroll do not finish. Median debt of $25,000 against $31,400 earnings produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.796. The aggregate picture is heavily influenced by major mix: Registered Nursing graduates (110 students) earn $78,485 at year one and $75,458 at year four, with a B+ ROI grade and a 0.327 debt-to-earnings ratio - a genuinely strong outcome at a public school with $11,700 in-state tuition. But Business Administration (187 graduates, the largest program by volume) earns $37,208 year one with a 0.726 debt-to-earnings ratio (D grade), and Psychology (53 graduates) shows a debt-to-earnings ratio above 1.0 (F grade). In-state tuition of $11,700 is low, but the net price of $15,363 - higher than in-state tuition - reflects fees and living costs. For low-income families, net price drops to $11,450, which is the most favorable scenario. The core risk at Lander is not the sticker price but the completion rate: nearly half of entering students do not graduate, which means a significant share of the enrollment is acquiring debt without the degree that would improve their earnings.
How Lander University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score22/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period27.2 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Lander University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,700/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $21,300/yr |
| Average net price | $15,363/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $61,452 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $42,396 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $31,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 27.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 49.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,397 |
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: $11,700/year ($21,300/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 $15,363/year, or roughly $61,452 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 $11,450/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,102/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($31,400) and comes to 0.80, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 | $11,450 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,778 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,842 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,319 |
| $110,001+ | $19,102 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (0-30000) pay $11,450 net price per year at Lander - close to the in-state tuition of $11,700, suggesting minimal grant aid beyond what covers tuition. Total four-year cost is roughly $45,800 at this price. With $31,400 average six-year earnings and a 27.2-year payback period, the financial case is weak at the institution level. The exception is Nursing: low-income students who complete the nursing program emerge with $78,000+ year-one earnings against $25,000 in debt - a strong outcome at any price point.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families (48001-75000) pay $13,842 per year - the bracket with the highest net price among the lower-income tiers, reflecting reduced grant eligibility.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families (110001-plus) pay $19,102 per year - about $76,000 over four years. For a school with $31,400 average six-year earnings and a 49.8% completion rate, Nursing and high-placement programs are the exceptions.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Lander University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $52,512 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $75,458 | B+ |
| Teacher Education | $43,637 | C |
| Psychology | $41,110 | F |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $43,098 | D |
| Biology | $51,767 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $25,271 | F |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $39,428 | F |
| History | $41,783 | C |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $40,202 | 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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is Lander's strongest program by a wide margin: 110 graduates, $78,485 median year-one earnings, $75,458 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.327 (B+ grade). Median debt of $25,665 is modest relative to immediate earnings. Nursing at a low-cost public school like Lander is a reliable value proposition - the credential is portable, the labor market is strong, and the payback period is short. This is the program that most justifies enrollment at Lander for ROI-focused students.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences has only 11 graduates but shows $59,232 at year one - a meaningful earnings result for a public school with $11,700 in-state tuition. No four-year earnings or debt data is available, limiting analysis. The small program size suggests limited course variety, but for students who complete it, the earnings trajectory compares favorably to most other programs at Lander.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is Lander's largest program at 187 graduates, but the outcomes are weak: $37,208 median year-one earnings, $52,512 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.726 (D grade). Median debt of $27,000 relative to $37,000 starting pay creates real repayment stress. The four-year trajectory to $52,512 is modest improvement but still leaves the debt-to-earnings picture unfavorable. Business majors at Lander should have a specific career plan with salary benchmarks before committing.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education (56 graduates) earns $39,601 at year one and $43,637 at year four - typical for K-12 teaching salaries in South Carolina. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.658 (C grade) and median debt of $26,075 make the repayment math manageable but tight on a teacher's salary. Students entering this program should factor in loan forgiveness programs for public school teachers, which meaningfully improve the long-run ROI beyond what Scorecard data captures.
Psychology
Psychology (53 graduates) shows $26,626 at year one, $41,110 at year four, and a debt-to-earnings ratio above 1.0 (F grade). Median debt of $27,062 against $26,626 year-one earnings is a structurally poor outcome. Psychology without graduate school leads to low-wage roles in most labor markets; Lander Psychology graduates who intend to pursue clinical or counseling careers should factor in the additional debt burden of a master's or doctoral program on top of these undergraduate numbers.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 53.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 61.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 53.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 60.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Lander University’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 | 81.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 460-570 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 490-608 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 16-23 |
| Enrollment | 3,397 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 38.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,527 |
At 81.3%, Lander admits most applicants. SAT Math 460-570 and Reading 490-608 describe the middle range; ACT 16-23 composite. The accessible admissions profile means academic preparation is not a barrier for most applicants, but this also correlates with the low completion rate. Students with strong academic preparation entering nursing or STEM fields are best positioned for completion and positive outcomes.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Lander's payback period is 27.2 years and its completion rate is 49.8%.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lander University (this school) | 22 | $15,363 | $42,396 |
| Citadel Military College of South Carolina | 85 | $20,723 | $72,085 |
| College of Charleston | 57 | $18,960 | $56,416 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | 20 | $6,842 | $34,996 |
| Cameron University | 20 | $10,912 | $40,118 |
| University of Guam | 20 | $8,598 | $35,946 |
Who Thrives Here
Lander is a small South Carolina public regional university with 3,397 undergraduates and an 81.3% admission rate. SAT mid-ranges are 460-570 Math and 490-608 Reading; ACT composite 16-23. The Pell grant rate of 38.7% indicates a heavily working-class student body. Students who come specifically for Nursing - by far the strongest program by ROI - find a credentialed pathway with real employment outcomes. Students entering Business, Education, or softer social science fields face weak earnings trajectories relative to debt. The low completion rate (49.8%) is the most important consideration: students at risk of stopping out should model that scenario explicitly before enrolling.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Lander University scores 22/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $15,363 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $42,396 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 27.2 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 49.8% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.80 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 61.9% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $31,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.80. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Lander University: Common Questions
Is Lander University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Lander University scores 22/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $15,363 a year after aid against $42,396 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 27.2 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Lander University 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 $15,363 a year, or roughly $61,452 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 Lander University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $42,396 ten years after enrolling, roughly $596 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 Lander University?
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 27.2 years for Lander University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Lander University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $31,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.80. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Lander University?
The six-year graduation rate is 49.8%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (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.