University of South Carolina Beaufort
Bluffton, South Carolina · Public · 72.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 34/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
USC Beaufort, a public regional campus in Bluffton, South Carolina, posts a Below Benchmark ROI score of 34/100. The composite is dragged hard by the 34% completion rate and a 0.71 debt-to-earnings ratio. Average earnings six years after entry are $33,800, climbing to a median $48,088 by year ten. Tuition is $10,730 in-state, the average net price is $14,656, and four-year cost is roughly $58,624. Median federal debt of $24,000 produces a 15.2-year payback period. The 66.2% three-year repayment rate is modest. USC Beaufort's Nursing program (40 grads, B ROI grade, $64,671 first-year earnings) is the school's clearest value proposition.
How University of South Carolina Beaufort 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 Score34/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate34.0% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
- Payback period15.2 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
University of South Carolina Beaufort
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,730/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $21,776/yr |
| Average net price | $14,656/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $58,624 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $48,088 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $254 |
| Estimated payback period | 15.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 34.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,052 |
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: $10,730/year ($21,776/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 $14,656/year, or roughly $58,624 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 $11,397/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,250/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,000, which works out to about $254 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($33,800) and comes to 0.71, 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 | $11,397 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,614 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,846 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,001 |
| $110,001+ | $20,250 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $11,397 net per year, which is curiously higher than the $30,001-$48,000 bracket at $10,614 - an inverted-bracket anomaly. The pattern likely reflects Pell stacking quirks or sample noise. Four-year out-of-pocket near $45K is reasonable for in-state SC residents.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $13,846 and $75,001-$110,000 pays $19,001. The cost ramp is reasonable, and middle-income families pay roughly $55K-$76K over four years. The math works for in-state students targeting Nursing.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $20,250 per year, $81,000 over four years.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of South Carolina Beaufort with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $56,852 | C |
| Psychology | $50,776 | F |
| Registered Nursing | $70,311 | B |
| Biology | $45,680 | D |
| Hospitality Administration | $45,953 | C |
| Public Health | $33,628 | D |
| Social Sciences, General | $44,888 | F |
| Communication and Media Studies | $49,545 | F |
| Teacher Education | $47,705 | C |
| Computational Science | $43,834 | - |
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 (53 grads) earns a C ROI grade. First-year earnings of $42,816 climb to $56,852 by year four with $27,000 of median debt producing a 0.631 ratio. The Hilton Head/Bluffton labor market supports placement into hospitality management, healthcare administration, and small-business operations.
Psychology
Psychology (53 grads) earns an F ROI grade. First-year earnings of just $25,523 against $27,000 of median debt produce a 1.058 debt-to-earnings ratio. Four-year earnings of $50,776 reflect graduates who continue to graduate study. The terminal-bachelor's Psychology pipeline in coastal SC is weak.
Registered Nursing
Nursing (40 grads) is USC Beaufort's flagship: B ROI grade, $64,671 in first-year earnings rising to $70,311 by year four, $27,000 of debt for a 0.417 ratio.
Biology
Biology (37 grads) earns a D ROI grade. First-year earnings of $32,212 against $26,000 of median debt produce a 0.807 ratio. Four-year earnings of $45,680 are modest and reflect the typical bachelor's-terminal Biology outcome without graduate study.
Hospitality Administration
Hospitality Administration (32 grads) earns a C ROI grade. First-year earnings of $34,503 climb to $45,953 by year four with $23,989 of debt for a 0.695 ratio. The local Hilton Head/Beaufort tourism industry provides direct internship-to-employment pipelines, particularly at large resort properties. This is the program that fits the school's geographic location best.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 59.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 66.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 59.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 55.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of South Carolina Beaufort’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 | 72.5% |
| Enrollment | 2,052 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 40.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,392 |
USC Beaufort admits 72.5% of applicants and does not report SAT or ACT mid-ranges in current Scorecard data, having moved test-optional. The high admit rate combined with the 34% completion rate signals significant academic-readiness variance. Students intending to pursue Nursing or Teacher Education tend to have stronger preparation and persist at higher rates than the school-wide average.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Carolina Beaufort (this school) | 34 | $14,656 | $48,088 |
| Citadel Military College of South Carolina | 85 | $20,723 | $72,085 |
| College of Charleston | 57 | $18,960 | $56,416 |
| SUNY College at Potsdam | 35 | $13,624 | $47,866 |
| Montana State University Billings | 34 | $16,524 | $44,296 |
| Missouri Western State University | 29 | $13,251 | $42,647 |
Who Thrives Here
Pell rate of 40.1% and enrollment of 2,052 mark USC Beaufort as a small, mid-income leaning regional public. Strongest fit: Nursing students who can leverage clinical placements at Beaufort Memorial or Hilton Head Hospital, plus Hospitality Administration students entering the local tourism industry. Students declared in Psychology or Social Sciences face the school's weakest ROI outcomes.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, University of South Carolina Beaufort scores 34/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $14,656 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $48,088 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 15.2 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: its 34.0% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 66.2% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $24,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $33,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71. 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.
University of South Carolina Beaufort: Common Questions
Is University of South Carolina Beaufort worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. University of South Carolina Beaufort scores 34/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $14,656 a year after aid against $48,088 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 15.2 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does University of South Carolina Beaufort 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 $14,656 a year, or roughly $58,624 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 University of South Carolina Beaufort graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $48,088 ten years after enrolling, roughly $6,288 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 University of South Carolina Beaufort?
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 15.2 years for University of South Carolina Beaufort. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of South Carolina Beaufort graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,000, against average earnings of $33,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71. 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 University of South Carolina Beaufort?
The six-year graduation rate is 34.0%. 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.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.