Best Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Degrees in South Carolina by ROI
Colleges in South Carolina ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in South Carolina
12
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$394,590
Across South Carolina programs
Average Annual Cost
$30,057
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
University of South Carolina-Sumter
Grad rate: 30.7% |
-$255,360 | $32,899 | $18,335 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Columbia College
Grad rate: 54.4% |
-$315,980 | $33,769 | $37,840 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Coastal Carolina University
Grad rate: 49.5% |
-$319,347 | $33,082 | $26,050 | $27,250 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
University of South Carolina-Upstate
Grad rate: 42.8% |
-$335,400 | $32,168 | $24,565 | $30,000 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Benedict College
Grad rate: 20.4% |
-$345,184 | $30,725 | $29,921 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Francis Marion University
Grad rate: 40.9% |
-$370,027 | $30,887 | $22,944 | $41,475 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
University of South Carolina-Columbia
Grad rate: 78.0% |
-$370,220 | $31,812 | $32,840 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Limestone University
Grad rate: 26.4% |
-$375,146 | $33,688 | $40,944 | $33,430 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Lander University
Grad rate: 47.0% |
-$380,014 | $30,044 | $26,069 | $27,125 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
North Greenville University
Grad rate: 54.3% |
-$489,261 | $27,378 | $40,599 | $25,500 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Columbia International University
Grad rate: 67.7% |
-$554,842 | $23,982 | $40,183 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
University of South Carolina-Salkehatchie
Grad rate: 22.8% |
-$624,308 | $14,865 | $20,402 | N/A | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Degrees by State
Browse Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.