University of South Carolina-Columbia
University of South Carolina-Columbia — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of South Carolina-Columbia at a Glance
The University of South Carolina is a public research university in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1801 as South Carolina College, it is the flagship of the University of South Carolina System and the largest university in the state by enrollment. Its main campus is on over 359 acres (145 ha) in downtown Columbia, close to the South Carolina State House. The university is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities with Highest Research Activity". It houses the largest colle…
1801
225 years old
$1.0B
$1.04 billion
57,059
49,094 undergrad · 7,965 grad
1,604
359 acres
Identity
How to Apply to University of South Carolina-Columbia
Official admissions pageIs University of South Carolina-Columbia Worth It?
University of South Carolina-Columbia offers moderate value at $22,811/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $62,177, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.5 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 78% graduation rate means roughly 22% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How University of South Carolina-Columbia compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #9 of 13 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | CUNY City College | 100 | $3,776 | $66,039 |
| #2 | CUNY Hunter College | 100 | $2,984 | $63,163 |
| #3 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
| #4 | University of California-Santa Cruz | 71 | $17,890 | $68,396 |
| #5 | The University of Texas at Dallas | 70 | $18,267 | $68,227 |
| #6 | University of Connecticut | 62 | $25,097 | $73,997 |
| #9 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 53 | $22,811 | $62,177 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of South Carolina-Columbia's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at University of South Carolina-Columbia
The highest-earning program at University of South Carolina-Columbia is Chemical Engineering at $68,800/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Anthropology at $14,200/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Chemical Engineering graduate from University of South Carolina-Columbia earns $68,800, while a Anthropology graduate earns $14,200. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Chemical Engineering graduates carry $25,750 in median debt vs. $23,831 for Anthropology.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $22,811/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Engineering | $68,800 | $68,800 | $25,750 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $67,000 | $67,000 | $27,000 |
| International Business | $66,800 | $66,800 | $25,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $64,600 | $64,600 | $24,500 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $60,200 | $60,200 | $23,250 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $58,900 | $58,900 | $21,500 |
| Civil Engineering | $58,700 | $58,700 | $26,778 |
| Computer Engineering | $58,700 | $58,700 | $22,625 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $58,600 | $58,600 | $25,707 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $52,900 | $52,900 | $23,250 |
| Insurance | $52,500 | $52,500 | $23,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $52,400 | $52,400 | $25,000 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $48,500 | $48,500 | $23,313 |
| Marketing | $44,100 | $44,100 | $24,476 |
| Mathematics | $40,900 | $40,900 | $24,259 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $40,200 | $40,200 | $22,250 |
| Economics | $37,700 | $37,700 | $21,593 |
| Chemistry | $37,600 | $37,600 | $23,028 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $36,600 | $36,600 | $22,750 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $35,900 | $35,900 | $21,500 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $35,100 | $35,100 | $25,000 |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | $35,000 | $35,000 | $22,875 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $34,700 | $34,700 | $26,000 |
| Music | $33,600 | $33,600 | $26,604 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $32,900 | $32,900 | $21,044 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $32,300 | $32,300 | $24,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $32,000 | $32,000 | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $31,800 | $31,800 | $25,437 |
| Journalism | $31,100 | $31,100 | $25,250 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $30,100 | $30,100 | $23,563 |
| History | $29,900 | $29,900 | $24,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $29,700 | $29,700 | $19,048 |
| Public Health | $29,000 | $29,000 | $24,500 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $28,900 | $28,900 | $20,332 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $28,600 | $28,600 | $22,319 |
| Political Science and Government | $28,300 | $28,300 | $21,375 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $26,900 | $26,900 | $23,250 |
| Biology, General | $26,800 | $26,800 | $23,250 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $26,300 | $26,300 | $23,250 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $25,800 | $25,800 | $25,250 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $24,300 | $24,300 | $25,289 |
| Sociology | $23,300 | $23,300 | $24,187 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $22,000 | $22,000 | $24,033 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $18,100 | $18,100 | $23,250 |
| Anthropology | $14,200 | $14,200 | $23,831 |
Similar Colleges in SC
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Columbia, SC
- Student Body
- 29,820 students
- Admission Rate
- 60%
- Graduation Rate
- 78%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $22,811
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $62,177
- Median Student Debt
- $21,500