University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina · Public · 60.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 72/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of South Carolina-Columbia scores 72 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale - South Carolina's flagship public research university in Columbia with 29,820 enrolled students, in-state tuition of $12,688, and a net price of $22,811. The score reflects an 8.5-year payback period, a 29.8% earnings premium, a 0.49 debt-to-earnings ratio, a 78.8% completion rate, and a 75.9% repayment rate at 3 years. Management Sciences (217 grads, $68,804 year-one, $98,020 at year four, grade B+) and Registered Nursing (241 grads, $73,872 year-one, grade B+) lead at the top. Public Health (435 grads, $31,756 year-one, D) and Research Psychology (405 grads, $29,350 year-one, D) are among the largest low-earning programs. Film/Video Arts (88 grads, grade F), Biochemistry (81 grads, grade F), and English (60 grads, grade F) round out the F-grade programs.
University of South Carolina-Columbia
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $12,688/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $35,972/yr |
| Average net price | $22,811/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $91,244 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $62,177 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $43,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $228 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 78.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 29,820 |
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: $12,688/year ($35,972/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 $22,811/year, or roughly $91,244 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 $12,634/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,125/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,500, which works out to about $228 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($43,900) and comes to 0.49, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | $12,634 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,953 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,859 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,478 |
| $110,001+ | $28,125 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $12,634 per year at USC and the 30001-48000 bracket pays $14,953. For low-income South Carolina residents, the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship and LIFE Scholarship - both merit-based - can significantly reduce net cost below these figures for qualifying students. At $12,634-$14,953 per year, USC's business and engineering programs produce strong value for low-income students who complete. The 78.8% completion rate is solid. Low-income students in arts, sciences, and public health should weigh near-term earnings carefully against the net price.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $19,859 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $24,478. For middle-income South Carolina families, $20,000-$24,000 per year for a flagship credential is a reasonable proposition for business and engineering students. The 8.5-year payback at average earnings of $43,900 is acceptable. Middle-income out-of-state families should be cautious: $35,972 out-of-state tuition against $43,900 average 6-year earnings produces a payback period in the 12-15 year range depending on program.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $28,125 per year at USC - a four-year total near $113,000. Finance graduates ($62,231 year-one) and Management Sciences graduates ($68,804 year-one) recover costs substantially faster than the institutional average. Darla Moore business programs and engineering justify the out-of-state premium; most other programs do not.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of South Carolina-Columbia with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management | $92,578 | B |
| Public Health | $58,715 | D |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $51,090 | D |
| Biology | $58,669 | D |
| Marketing | $81,945 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $67,705 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $70,527 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $80,768 | B+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $84,720 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $50,847 | 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.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance is USC's largest B-grade program at 597 confirmed graduates: $62,231 year-one, $92,578 at year four, grade B on $25,000 median debt. The Darla Moore School of Business places finance graduates in Charlotte, Atlanta, and Northeast financial services markets with competitive outcomes. Year-one earnings of $62,231 are strong for South Carolina's labor market and reflect placement into finance roles beyond the Columbia metro. The four-year trajectory to $92,578 indicates solid advancement. At a $22,811 net price for in-state students, Finance at USC delivers a strong business ROI profile.
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods earns a B+ grade: 217 confirmed graduates, $68,804 year-one, $98,020 at year four, on $22,922 median debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.333 makes this one of USC's strongest programs on a cost-adjusted basis. Year-one earnings of $68,804 in a South Carolina context reflect graduates placing into analytics, data science, and quantitative consulting roles in Charlotte, Atlanta, and remote-work positions. The four-year trajectory to $98,020 is among the steepest at USC. This program is a strong choice for quantitatively-oriented students at USC's in-state price.
Research and Experimental Psychology
Research and Experimental Psychology produces 405 confirmed graduates at $29,350 year-one and $51,090 at year four, grade D on $24,250 median debt. The four-year trajectory to $51,090 shows meaningful growth, likely reflecting graduate school pipelines rather than direct employment advancement. Psychology is the second-largest D-grade program at USC and contributes substantially to the institutional median earnings. Students who choose psychology should have a concrete post-baccalaureate plan - clinical, counseling, or doctoral training - before committing at USC's net price.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 69.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 75.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 74.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 76.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of South Carolina-Columbia’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 | 60.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 580-680 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 600-680 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 26-32 |
| Enrollment | 29,820 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 19.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,414 |
USC's 60.2% admission rate is moderately selective. USC's most competitive admissions are into Darla Moore Business School and engineering - direct-admit students face higher academic thresholds than general college admits. Out-of-state students who are not in these competitive programs should weigh the $35,972 out-of-state tuition premium carefully against the program-specific outcomes they will access.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Carolina-Columbia (this school) | 72 | $22,811 | $62,177 |
| Citadel Military College of South Carolina | 85 | $20,723 | $72,085 |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | 77 | $17,339 | $60,409 |
| Florida Atlantic University | 75 | $8,752 | $56,746 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | 70 | $30,434 | $66,125 |
| College of Charleston | 57 | $18,960 | $56,416 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of South Carolina-Columbia side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
USC Columbia admits 60.2% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 580-680 Math and 600-680 Reading; ACT composite 26-32. With 29,820 enrolled students and a 19.1% Pell grant rate, USC serves a predominantly upper-middle and high-income student body - notably skewed by heavy out-of-state enrollment from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The institution has a strong business school reputation nationally and an active Greek system. USC's value proposition is clearest for South Carolina in-state students in business, engineering, nursing, and Darla Moore programs.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
University of South Carolina-Columbia is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $22,811 a year after aid ($91,244 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $62,177 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.5 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 78.8% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $21,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $43,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of South Carolina-Columbia: Common Questions
Is University of South Carolina-Columbia worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether University of South Carolina-Columbia is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 72/100 on our ROI scale. At $22,811 a year after aid ($91,244 over four years) against $62,177 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.5 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of South Carolina-Columbia 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 $22,811 a year, or roughly $91,244 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-Columbia graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $62,177 ten years after enrolling, roughly $20,377 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-Columbia?
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 8.5 years for University of South Carolina-Columbia. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of South Carolina-Columbia graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,500, against average earnings of $43,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of South Carolina-Columbia?
The six-year graduation rate is 78.8%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (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.