Columbia, SC · Private University
Is University of South Carolina-Columbia Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$62,177
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$12,688
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$34,934
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$139,736
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
1.78x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
5.1 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
77.8%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$21,500
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$24,532
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
University of South Carolina-Columbia graduates earn $17,177 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at University of South Carolina-Columbia ranked by graduate earnings
101 graduates
53 graduates
47 graduates
235 graduates
466 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at University of South Carolina-Columbia
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings — your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At University of South Carolina-Columbia, the gap between the highest-earning major (International Business: $89,299) and the lowest (Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology: $23,763) is $65,536/yr — bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| International BusinessBest ROI | $89,299 | 2.6x |
| Chemical Engineering | $86,093 | 2.5x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $84,115 | 2.4x |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $80,943 | 2.3x |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $79,318 | 2.3x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $78,911 | 2.3x |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $78,153 | 2.2x |
| Civil Engineering | $76,849 | 2.2x |
| Computer Engineering | $75,680 | 2.2x |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $75,178 | 2.1x |
| Insurance | $73,714 | 2.1x |
| Accounting and Related Services | $72,537 | 2.1x |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $71,054 | 2.0x |
| Mathematics | $69,584 | 2.0x |
| Statistics(1yr data) | $69,543 | 2.0x |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $66,230 | 1.9x |
| Marketing | $62,400 | 1.8x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $57,877 | 1.7x |
| Economics | $57,679 | 1.6x |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $55,909 | 1.6x |
| Chemistry | $55,534 | 1.6x |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $54,570 | 1.6x |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $53,389 | 1.5x |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | $53,030 | 1.5x |
| Real Estate(1yr data) | $51,965 | 1.5x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $50,389 | 1.4x |
| Political Science and Government | $49,917 | 1.4x |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $49,481 | 1.4x |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $49,363 | 1.4x |
| Geography and Cartography | $48,306 | 1.4x |
| Journalism | $46,183 | 1.3x |
| Biology, General | $45,891 | 1.3x |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $45,324 | 1.3x |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $45,243 | 1.3x |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $44,406 | 1.3x |
| Public Health | $43,924 | 1.3x |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $43,883 | 1.3x |
| History | $43,166 | 1.2x |
| Sociology | $41,963 | 1.2x |
| Music | $40,181 | 1.1x |
| Social Work | $40,123 | 1.1x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $39,823 | 1.1x |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $39,456 | 1.1x |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences(1yr data) | $38,432 | 1.1x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $38,368 | 1.1x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $38,005 | 1.1x |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $37,752 | 1.1x |
| Communication and Media Studies(1yr data) | $35,586 | 1.0x |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $35,031 | 1.0x |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $33,768 | 1.0x |
| Dance(1yr data) | $33,291 | 0.9x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $32,724 | 0.9x |
| Area Studies(1yr data) | $32,064 | 0.9x |
| Philosophy | $30,831 | 0.9x |
| Anthropology | $28,454 | 0.8x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyLowest(1yr data) | $23,763 | 0.7x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
How It Compares
ROI at similar schools
| School | ROI Ratio | Earnings | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Carolina-Columbia | 1.78x | $62,177 | Good ROI |
| Auburn University | 1.93x | $65,337 | Good ROI |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 1.88x | $60,249 | Good ROI |
| The University of Alabama | 1.78x | $59,221 | Good ROI |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | 2.23x | $81,698 | Strong ROI |
| College of Charleston | 1.53x | $56,416 | Good ROI |
The Bottom Line
University of South Carolina-Columbia offers solid financial returns relative to its cost. Graduates earn $62,177 10 years after starting — $17,177 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 5.1 years — faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.