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University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia, SC 28,113 Undergrads 76.5% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$32,840
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$24,532
After Aid
Median Earnings
$62,177
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$24,532
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$62,177
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate76.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients19.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time96.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS79.9%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
61.5%
SAT Avg
1,297
SAT Reading
25th: 60063075th: 690
SAT Math
25th: 58062575th: 690
ACT Composite
25th: 262975th: 32
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$534k
+$137k
+$49k
Median Cost$25k/yr
+$446k
+$49k
-$39k
Full Cost$33k/yr
+$416k
+$19k
-$69k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
38
∞
Median Cost$25k/yr
Never
-44%
Full Cost$33k/yr
Never
-58%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-11%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-59%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$25,283
Earnings (5yr)
$84,344
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$26,836
Earnings (5yr)
$51,777
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$42,350
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$60,846
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$73,342
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$22,497
Earnings (5yr)
$69,907
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$101,307
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$26,241
Earnings (5yr)
$99,912
Lifetime Value Added
+$255k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$23,263
Earnings (5yr)
$70,138
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$87,617
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$87,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$25,675
Earnings (5yr)
$87,710
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$49,134
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$283k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$324k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
BachCIP: 2613
Median Debt
$18,965
Earnings (5yr)
$47,536
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$21,434
Earnings (5yr)
$68,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$98,758
Lifetime Value Added
+$246k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$46,297
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,912
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$40,191
Lifetime Value Added
-$209k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$91,441
Lifetime Value Added
+$191k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (5yr)
$40,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations
BachCIP: 5218
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$55,908
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$53,719
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (2yr)
$35,060
Lifetime Value Added
-$234k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$63,908
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$51,175
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$53,539
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Insurance
BachCIP: 5217
Median Debt
$25,173
Earnings (5yr)
$85,286
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$25,174
Earnings (5yr)
$105,852
Lifetime Value Added
+$299k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$18,875
Earnings (5yr)
$55,763
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (5yr)
$51,441
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$41,776
Lifetime Value Added
-$196k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
BachCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$22,497
Earnings (5yr)
$91,024
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$77,355
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$22,100
Earnings (5yr)
$74,650
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$22,750
Earnings (5yr)
$88,180
Lifetime Value Added
+$167k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,505
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$63,196
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$321k
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
BachCIP: 2609
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$62,997
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$60,403
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$55,090
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$22,990
Earnings (5yr)
$66,664
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$59,326
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$23,375
Earnings (5yr)
$74,996
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Research and Experimental Psychology
BachCIP: 4227
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$48,055
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$22,590
Earnings (5yr)
$60,164
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$21,467
Earnings (5yr)
$45,169
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (5yr)
$43,426
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$24,490
Earnings (5yr)
$43,561
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$21,910
Earnings (5yr)
$41,608
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$101,535
Lifetime Value Added
+$407k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$85,000
Earnings (2yr)
$41,007
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,272
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$134,510
Lifetime Value Added
+$689k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$66,000
Earnings (5yr)
$63,523
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$30,301
Earnings (2yr)
$43,054
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$32,251
Earnings (5yr)
$68,542
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Genetics
MastCIP: 2608
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$64,493
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$44,964
Earnings (5yr)
$85,477
Lifetime Value Added
+$270k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$30,110
Earnings (5yr)
$58,076
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$30,442
Earnings (5yr)
$122,353
Lifetime Value Added
+$585k
International Business
MastCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$125,621
Lifetime Value Added
+$613k
Journalism
MastCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Library Science and Administration
MastCIP: 2501
Median Debt
$38,620
Earnings (5yr)
$51,188
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$38,386
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$224k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$54,811
Earnings (5yr)
$71,159
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$44,143
Earnings (5yr)
$157,539
Lifetime Value Added
+$884k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,727
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,489
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$39,122
Earnings (5yr)
$54,021
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$30,464
Earnings (5yr)
$47,947
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$33,380
Earnings (5yr)
$51,381
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Doctoral Degrees
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,329
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$83,546
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,181
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Public Health
DocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$89,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$111,000
Earnings (5yr)
$82,248
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
DocCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,221
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$115,354
Earnings (5yr)
$95,937
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$210,899
Earnings (5yr)
$162,139
Lifetime Value Added
+$657k
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
ProfCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$113,000
Earnings (5yr)
$135,032
Lifetime Value Added
+$462k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.