South Carolina State University
Orangeburg, South Carolina · Public · 82.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 9/100 · Poor Value
South Carolina State University earns a 9 ROI score and a Poor Value tier rating -- among the lowest scores in our universe. The fundamentals are deeply concerning across virtually every dimension. In-state tuition is $11,060 (out-of-state $21,750), but the net price is $18,097 -- substantially above sticker, reflecting how full COA outstrips the school's institutional aid budget. Four-year cost lands at $72,388. Median earnings six years out are just $25,000, climbing to $38,262 by year ten -- producing a near-zero 4.5 percent earnings premium and a 65-year payback period. Median debt is heavy at $31,000, producing a punishing 1.24 debt-to-earnings ratio: typical graduates owe substantially more than they make annually. The 36.6 percent six-year completion rate is weak, and the 43.3 percent five-year repayment rate is critically poor. SCSU is a public Historically Black university whose mission is unquestionably valuable but whose current Scorecard outcomes warrant a serious cautionary tale.
The data raises concerns about South Carolina State University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score9/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.24 - Advisors recommend total student debt stay below one year of salary (ratio under 1.0).
- 6-year graduation rate36.6% - 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.
South Carolina State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,060/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $21,750/yr |
| Average net price | $18,097/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $72,388 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $38,262 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $25,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $31,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $329 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 36.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,934 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at South Carolina State University is $11,060/year ($21,750/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $18,097/year, or roughly $72,388 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $16,846/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,523/year.
The median graduate leaves with $31,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $329 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $38,262 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 1.24 - 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 | $16,846 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,968 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,449 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,587 |
| $110,001+ | $24,523 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Lowest-income families pay $16,846 net annually -- with the $30,001-$48,000 bracket actually paying slightly more at $16,968, a mild inversion. Roughly $67,000 over four years for Pell-eligible students against $25K six-year earnings is a punishing debt risk. Pell-eligible students absolutely need to maximize federal and state aid and aggressively minimize borrowing, since the median-debt outcome here predicts ongoing struggle.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets pay $16,968 ($30K-$48K), $20,449 ($48K-$75K), and $22,587 ($75K-$110K) -- a steep climb. Annual costs at the upper-middle band approach private-school territory. Roughly $82K-$90K over four years against weak earnings outcomes is a difficult financial recommendation; middle-income families should consider Clemson or USC if academically eligible.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families pay $24,523 net annually -- approximately $98K over four years. With median 10-year earnings of $38,262 and a 65-year payback flag, the financial recommendation for full-pay families is exceptionally cautious. Wealthier in-state families with HBCU preferences should look at North Carolina A&T or other better-performing HBCUs.
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at South Carolina State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Family and Consumer Sciences | $40,050 | F |
| Biology | $37,940 | F |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $48,108 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $45,061 | D |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $66,821 | F |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $41,075 | F |
| Communication and Media Studies | $33,586 | D |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $63,129 | - |
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 graduates 22 students with $25,518 first-year earnings climbing to $48,108 by year four. Median debt of $32,000 produces a punishing 1.254 debt-to-earnings ratio -- typical graduates owe more than they make in their first year -- earning an F ROI grade. The four-year earnings recovery is meaningful but does not catch up to the heavy program-level debt within reasonable timeframes.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences graduates 11 students with weak first-year earnings of $30,082 climbing impressively to $66,821 by year four. Median debt of $31,000 against early-career earnings produces a 1.031 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F ROI grade despite the strong four-year trajectory. Students who can persist into the four-year earnings tier do see meaningful recovery; the challenge is the early years.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates 20 students with $32,576 first-year and $45,061 four-year earnings against median debt of $31,000 -- producing a 0.952 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D ROI grade. Career paths flow into South Carolina state agencies and federal law enforcement; the financial math is workable only if students minimize borrowing aggressively.
Biology
Biology graduates 22 students with $25,938 first-year and $37,940 four-year earnings against median debt of $31,000 -- producing a 1.195 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F ROI grade. Most strong career paths in biology require graduate study (med school, dental school, PA, doctoral programs); the bachelor's at SCSU faces a tough recovery curve. Students should plan their full pathway.
Family and Consumer Sciences
Family and Consumer Sciences graduates 28 students -- one of the larger cohorts -- with $29,618 first-year and $40,050 four-year earnings against heavy median debt of $34,625 -- producing a 1.169 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F ROI grade. The combination of weak earnings and elevated program-level debt is among the worst patterns on campus.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 30.9% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 43.3% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 33.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 36.4% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 82.6% |
| Enrollment | 2,934 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 70.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,174 |
South Carolina State admits 82.6 percent of applicants -- broadly accessible. SAT and ACT data are not reported in current Scorecard data, consistent with test-optional admissions. The 36.6 percent completion rate reflects significant structural retention challenges that prospective students need to plan around. Most enrolled students do not graduate within six years; persistence requires substantial commitment and family financial support.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
SCSU's nearest peers include College of Charleston and The Citadel -- both meaningfully stronger South Carolina publics with very different institutional missions -- alongside Savannah State University (a fellow HBCU and the most direct comparison), University of Maine at Augusta, and University of Guam. Within the HBCU peer set, students should look at significantly stronger options like Howard, Spelman, Tennessee State, Florida A&M, or even South Carolina State's stronger HBCU peers like North Carolina A&T.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina State University (this school) | 9 | $18,097 | $38,262 |
| Lincoln University | 10 | $19,092 | $39,463 |
| Bethune-Cookman University | 9 | $12,030 | $38,518 |
| Fort Valley State University | 9 | $10,338 | $36,666 |
| Kentucky State University | 9 | $8,040 | $36,382 |
| Virginia Union University | 9 | $13,235 | $38,275 |
Who Thrives Here
South Carolina State fits African-American students with a deep cultural and family connection to the school's HBCU heritage and South Carolina civil-rights legacy. Enrollment is 2,934 undergraduates and Pell rate runs an exceptional 70.5 percent -- among the highest in our universe, indicating an overwhelmingly Pell-eligible, lower-income student body. Strongest student outcomes -- such as they are -- flow modestly to mechanical engineering technology and computer science, but heavy program-level debt drags ROI grades to F across most majors. Students should carefully weigh the heritage value against the concrete financial outcomes.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about South Carolina State University. With a net cost of $18,097 per year and median graduate earnings of only $38,262 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 36.6% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $31,000 against $38,262 in earnings is concerning. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.81 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.