Anderson University
- Graduation Rate
- 67% B-
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $42,101 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $23,544 D+
- 37% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 55% B+
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 8.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $8.9 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $8.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $748,412.
What The Data Says
-
A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Every $1 invested returns $8.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Anderson University Matters
Anderson University is a private university in Anderson, SC and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 3,183
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 54
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Education, Health Professions, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Anderson University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 55% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1100–1280. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $23,544 a year after grants and scholarships — 37% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,101 ten years after enrolling — 3% above the typical college, against $26,700 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.61 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 3,183 students, Anderson University is an inviting choice for those who are drawn to a close-knit campus experience. It’s especially appealing for individuals pursuing degrees in education, business and marketing, health professions, visual and performing arts, or biology and biomedical studies. The acceptance rate is at 55%, making it accessible while still maintaining a standard that attracts dedicated students.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $42,101 after ten years, which is a solid starting point for building a career. This figure indicates that those who study here tend to find their footing relatively well in the job market. The university’s commitment to affordability is notable, with a net price of $23,544 after financial aid, making it a reasonable investment for many families.
When it comes to financial considerations, the median debt for graduates stands at $26,700. This level of debt is manageable for the average graduate, especially given the earning potential. Students who thrive at Anderson University often share a passion for learning and community engagement, making it a supportive environment for personal and professional growth.
Rankings
- #12 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in South Carolina
- #14 Best Communications Colleges in South Carolina
- #18 Best Computer Science Colleges in South Carolina
- #18 Best Data Science Colleges in South Carolina
- #19 Best Education Colleges in South Carolina
- #23 Best Biology Colleges in South Carolina
- #24 Best Nursing Colleges in South Carolina
- #25 Best Bachelor's Programs in South Carolina
Can I Get In?
How selective Anderson University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Anderson University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Anderson University, located in Anderson, South Carolina, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 55% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,202. The graduation rate is roughly 67%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 55%
- Retention Rate
- 82%
- SAT Average
- 1202
- SAT Range
- 1100–1280
- ACT Range
- 22–29
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,635
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.31
- First-Gen Students
- 25%
- Applicants
- 5,043
- Admitted
- 2,289
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Anderson University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Anderson University is $34,970, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $23,544. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,188 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,700 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $34,970
- Out-of-State
- $34,970
- Avg Net Price
- $23,544
- Median Debt
- $26,700
- Pell Grant Rate
- 21%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 42%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $17,188
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $18,724
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $19,647
- Family Income $110K+
- $27,080
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Anderson University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Anderson University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Anderson University report median earnings of $42,101, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $42,073
- 8 Years
- $45,202
- 10 Years
- $42,101
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.63x
- Earning > $25K
- 60%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (327)
- 51%
- 100% (327)
- 51%
- 100% (327)
- 51%
- 100% (327)
- 51%
How Anderson Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Anderson University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Anderson University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $23,544/year ($94,176 total). Graduates earn $42,101 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $842,588 in total earnings — a net gain of $748,412 (8.9× your investment). The median debt is $26,700, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 67% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $94,176
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $842,588
- Net Return
- $748,412
- ROI Multiple
- 8.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $23,544
- Median Debt
- $26,700
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 67%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $5,295,905
- Investment Income
- $-3,222,938
Top Programs
The fields Anderson University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 17% $54,481 early-career
- Education 13% $40,390 early-career
- Health Professions 12% $68,508 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 10% $44,394 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5%
- Biology & Biomedical 5%
- Communications 4% $40,390 early-career
- Criminal Justice 4% $43,102 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Anderson University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Anderson University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Anderson University, located in Anderson, South Carolina, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 55% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,202. The graduation rate is roughly 67%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Anderson University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Anderson University is $34,970, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $23,544. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,188 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,700 in federal student loans.
Is Anderson University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Anderson University report median earnings of $42,101, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Anderson University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Anderson University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.61, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Anderson University.
- Florida Institute of TechnologyMelbourne, FL · Close peer64% grad $43,137 earn 58% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Franciscan University of SteubenvilleSteubenville, OH · Close peer76% grad $50,030 earn 58% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar net price
- SUNY at Purchase CollegePurchase, NY · Close peer62% grad $45,092 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lancaster Bible CollegeLancaster, PA · Close peer69% grad $44,096 earn 56% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Lee UniversityCleveland, TN · Close peer62% grad $43,222 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- University of MontevalloMontevallo, AL · Close peer52% grad $42,957 earn 54% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Anderson University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Anderson University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.61, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note