University of South Carolina Aiken
Aiken, South Carolina · Public · 78.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 33/100 · Poor Value
University of South Carolina Aiken earns a CampusROI score of 33 (Poor Value tier). In-state tuition is $10,760 with a net price of $11,641 -- net price slightly exceeds tuition, signaling minimal grant aid and meaningful fees. Median earnings reach $34,200 at six years and $45,603 at ten years. The school's earnings premium subscore of 49 (raw 0.228) is moderate, but completion drag (39.9%, subscore 21) and debt-to-earnings (0.71, subscore 27) pull the overall score down. Median debt of $24,275 against $34,200 in early earnings yields a 17.6-year payback period. Three-year repayment is 64% (subscore 24) -- middling. USCA enrolls 2,962 students with a 39.2% Pell rate, indicating a meaningfully lower-income population. The school's nursing program (109 graduates per year, year-one earnings of $72,714) is the clear ROI standout; outside nursing, the wage outcomes weaken substantially across most majors.
The data raises concerns about University of South Carolina Aiken
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score33/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate39.9% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period17.6 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
University of South Carolina Aiken
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,760/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $21,218/yr |
| Average net price | $11,641/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $46,564 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,603 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $34,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,275 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $257 |
| Estimated payback period | 17.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 39.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,962 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at University of South Carolina Aiken is $10,760/year ($21,218/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 $11,641/year, or roughly $46,564 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $8,987/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $17,502/year.
The median graduate leaves with $24,275 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $257 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $45,603 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.71 - 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 | $8,987 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,435 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,440 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,046 |
| $110,001+ | $17,502 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30,000 pay $8,987 per year, totaling about $35,948 over four years. The 30-48K bracket pays slightly less ($8,435) -- a typical pattern with low-income students at slightly higher net cost. With $34,200 in early-career earnings, low-income students who complete (especially in nursing) see workable ROI. The 39.9% completion rate is the key risk.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-75,000) pay $11,440 per year, about $45,760 over four years. With $45,603 in ten-year median earnings, the math is workable in nursing and business tracks but tight elsewhere. Middle-bracket South Carolina families should also consider USC-Columbia and Clemson where in-state tuition is similar but completion rates and earnings outcomes are stronger.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $17,502 per year -- about $70,008 over four years. At this price, full-pay families should weigh USCA against USC-Columbia and Clemson, which charge similar in-state rates but produce stronger overall outcomes. USCA's value proposition narrows substantially for full-pay families outside the nursing track.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of South Carolina Aiken with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $58,908 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $78,231 | B |
| Teacher Education | $43,728 | C |
| Psychology | $45,163 | D |
| Biology | $45,363 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $43,178 | F |
| Communication and Media Studies | $58,203 | D |
| Sociology | $49,530 | D |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $31,931 | F |
| English Language and Literature | $38,980 | 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.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is USCA's clear ROI standout with 109 graduates per year, year-one earnings of $72,714 climbing to $78,231 at year four, and median debt of $28,500 yielding a 0.392 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade. The Aiken/Augusta regional healthcare market (Augusta University Health, AnMed Health, Doctors Hospital) absorbs graduates at strong wages. This program alone drives much of USCA's overall ROI position.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business is USCA's largest non-nursing program with 143 graduates per year. Year-one earnings of $44,816 climb to $58,908 at year four. Median debt of $28,725 yields a 0.641 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C ROI grade. Regional employer relationships in Aiken (Savannah River Site contractors, regional manufacturing, banking) drive solid mid-range outcomes.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education produces 57 graduates per year with year-one earnings of $38,667 and four-year earnings of $43,728. Median debt of $24,776 yields a 0.641 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C ROI grade. South Carolina public-school starting salaries align with these wages. The relatively low debt load makes the program defensible for committed future teachers despite the flat wage trajectory.
Industrial Engineering
Industrial Engineering is a small program (8 graduates per year) with year-one earnings of $60,091 and median debt of $22,828, yielding a 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade. Four-year earnings aren't reported, but the strong fundamentals suggest placement into Savannah River Site engineering contractor work and regional manufacturing engineering roles.
Psychology
Psychology produces 42 graduates per year with year-one earnings of $31,121 and four-year earnings of $45,163. Median debt of $27,000 yields a 0.868 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D ROI grade. Most psychology majors typically continue to graduate school, where lifetime outcomes improve; the early-career snapshot understates outcomes for graduate-school-bound students.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 55.9% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 64.0% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 60.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 65.4% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 78.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 470-600 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 510-620 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-26 |
| Enrollment | 2,962 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 39.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,537 |
USCA admits 78.5% of applicants. SAT 25-75 mid-ranges are 470-600 math and 510-620 reading, with ACT 25-75 of 19-26 -- modest-to-mid-range test scores reflecting a broad academic profile. The combination of moderate selectivity with 39.9% completion shows the typical regional-public pattern: open admission, weak retention. Prepared students who finish do see solid wage outcomes especially in nursing; the 60% of entering students who don't graduate are the school's structural problem.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
USCA's peer set includes College of Charleston, Citadel Military College of South Carolina, Fort Lewis College, Montana State University-Billings, and SUNY at Purchase College. The College of Charleston pairing is an outlier (much stronger ROI). The Citadel is a specialty military college with different cost/wage dynamics. Fort Lewis, MSU-Billings, and SUNY Purchase are realistic regional-comprehensive peers, all sitting in similar 30-40 ROI territory. USCA's 33 score is typical for small regional state universities; the lack of large-scale STEM or business pipelines limits earnings premium.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Carolina Aiken (this school) | 33 | $11,641 | $45,603 |
| Citadel Military College of South Carolina | 85 | $20,723 | $72,085 |
| College of Charleston | 57 | $18,960 | $56,416 |
| Montana State University Billings | 34 | $16,524 | $44,296 |
| Fort Lewis College | 33 | $17,296 | $46,349 |
| SUNY at Purchase College | 33 | $18,913 | $45,092 |
Who Thrives Here
USCA fits South Carolina and southeastern students seeking a small regional public university in the Aiken/Augusta area at mid-sized scale (2,962 students). The 39.2% Pell rate signals a heavily lower-income population. Strong-fit students are those targeting nursing (the clear ROI standout) or business/teacher education tracks where wage outcomes hold reasonably well. For students in arts or humanities, the wage outcomes are weak, and the financing math gets tight. The school's location near the Savannah River Site nuclear facility creates some specialty employer relationships.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about University of South Carolina Aiken. With a net cost of $11,641 per year and median graduate earnings of only $45,603 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 17.6 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include a 39.9% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $24,275 against $45,603 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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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.