Morris College
Sumter, South Carolina · Private Nonprofit
ROI Score: 3/100 · Poor Value
Morris College earns an overall ROI score of 3 (Poor Value) -- among the lowest in CampusROI's database. The historic HBCU in Sumter, SC charges $16,664 tuition but average net price is $20,555 -- net price exceeds tuition, meaning costs beyond tuition exceed institutional aid for nearly all students. Four-year cost runs $82,220. The outcomes data is alarming: median earnings are just $19,200 six years out and only $30,614 at 10 years -- below high-school-graduate baseline. Median debt is $31,400 against a 1.635 debt-to-earnings ratio. Completion is 17.4%, among the lowest reported. Repayment is dire at 22% three-year and 25.9% seven-year. Payback shows 999 years -- earnings will essentially never recoup the cost via wages. Pell rate is 95.5%, the highest in this batch. The institution serves a small (383 enrolled) overwhelmingly low-income student body and its mission as one of the oldest HBCUs in South Carolina is historically significant, but the current financial outcome data is severe. Prospective students should investigate institutional accreditation status and consider transfer pathways to South Carolina State University or local technical colleges.
The data raises concerns about Morris College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score3/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.64 - Advisors recommend total student debt stay below one year of salary (ratio under 1.0).
- 6-year graduation rate17.3% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers — the cost may not recoup within a working career.
Morris College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $16,664/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $16,664/yr |
| Average net price | $20,555/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $82,220 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $30,614 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $19,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $31,400 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $333 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 17.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 383 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Morris College is $16,664/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $20,555/year, or roughly $82,220 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $20,485/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year.
The median graduate leaves with $31,400 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $333 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $30,614 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 1.64 - above the recommended threshold where total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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 | $20,485 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,609 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,727 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,121 |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30K pay $20,485 net per year -- nearly the same as every other reported income bracket. Four-year cost is $82K. Pell-eligible students borrow heavily relative to the wage outcomes the institution produces. Given the 17.4% completion rate and the wage data showing graduates earn below high-school baseline, the financial risk is severe.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30-48K bracket pays $20,609, the 48-75K bracket pays $20,727, and the 75-110K bracket pays $21,121. The aid structure is essentially flat across income tiers -- almost no need-progressive discounting. This is unusual and reflects an institution with minimal institutional aid resources.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Net price for over-110K is not reported. The flat pricing across reported brackets suggests the institution does not see meaningful enrollment from higher-income families. Given the universal financial outcomes, the case for enrollment at any income tier is difficult to make.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at Morris College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $46,257 | 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.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is Morris College's only reported program at 33 graduates -- the institution's largest credential pathway. Four-year earnings of $46,257 against $26,946 median debt produces a 0.583 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C grade. The grade is significantly better than the institutional ROI score because program-level reporting reflects completers only, and completers do achieve reasonable mid-career outcomes. First-year earnings are suppressed. For the 17% of entering students who complete, the business credential produces workable outcomes; the dominant institutional story is the 83% who do not complete.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 17.2% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 22.0% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 17.2% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 25.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 383 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 95.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,816 |
Admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data, nor are SAT or ACT mid-ranges. Morris College historically operates with open or near-open admissions serving the local Sumter-area Black student population. The 17.4% completion rate is among the lowest reported and reflects severe institutional and student-financial challenges. The very small enrollment scale (383) limits academic-support infrastructure investment.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peers include Allen University, Anderson University (SC), Arkansas Baptist College, Rust College, and East-West University. Allen, Arkansas Baptist, and Rust are smaller HBCUs facing similar institutional and financial challenges. Anderson SC is a stronger non-HBCU South Carolina private with materially better outcomes. East-West is a Chicago commuter-focused private. The peer group highlights that small under-resourced HBCUs systemically produce weak financial outcomes, suggesting structural sector challenges rather than purely institution-specific ones.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morris College (this school) | 3 | $20,555 | $30,614 |
| Anderson University | 24 | $23,544 | $42,101 |
| Arkansas Baptist College | 4 | $10,627 | $28,418 |
| East-West University | 4 | $21,697 | $29,963 |
| Rust College | 3 | $12,587 | $32,275 |
| Allen University | 3 | $10,972 | $30,497 |
Who Thrives Here
Morris College fits Black students in the Sumter, SC area drawn to a small HBCU community and unable to access stronger alternatives. Pell rate is 95.5% -- the institution serves an essentially universally Pell-eligible student body. Enrollment is 383. The mission is real and historic, but the financial outcomes data demand serious consideration before enrollment. Students should investigate transfer agreements with SC State, Benedict College, or community-college routes that produce stronger financial outcomes.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Morris College. With a net cost of $20,555 per year and median graduate earnings of only $30,614 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 17.3% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $31,400 against $30,614 in earnings is concerning. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.03 exceeds the commonly recommended threshold. Major choice is critical here.
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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.