Benedict College
- Graduation Rate
- 23% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $31,902 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $18,250 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 96% F
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A D overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 12.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $12.1 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $12.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~1 years. Net gain: $809,091.
What The Data Says
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A D overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduate earnings fall 22% below the national college median.
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Graduation of 23% — 60% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $12.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Benedict College
Benedict College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 1,536
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HBCU · 54
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Criminal Justice, Psychology
Why students choose Benedict College
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
Accessible — admits about 96% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $18,250 a year after grants and scholarships — 7% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $31,902 ten years after enrolling — 22% below the typical college, against $32,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 0.78 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of 96%, Benedict College is a welcoming choice for students seeking a supportive and inclusive environment. This private nonprofit institution in Columbia, SC, is particularly geared towards those interested in fields like Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Criminal Justice, Psychology, and Communications. It's a place where students can explore their passions and gain the skills needed for their chosen careers.
When we look at life after graduation, the average earnings for alumni ten years out sit at around $31,902. This figure provides a helpful benchmark for understanding potential financial outcomes. While the graduation rate is relatively low at 23%, many students still find pathways to success, whether that means entering the workforce directly or pursuing further education. It's essential to consider how affordable the college experience can be, especially for those who receive Pell Grants—62% of students here do, which can help ease the financial burden.
On the financial side, the net price for students after aid is about $18,250, and the median debt stands at $32,500. These numbers underscore the importance of planning for the financial commitment of college. Students who tend to thrive here are those who are motivated and adaptable, ready to take advantage of the resources available and willing to navigate the challenges of higher education.
Rankings
- #13 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in South Carolina
- #16 Best Communications Colleges in South Carolina
- #21 Best Computer Science Colleges in South Carolina
- #21 Best Data Science Colleges in South Carolina
- #24 Best Biology Colleges in South Carolina
- #26 Best Nursing Colleges in South Carolina
- #27 Best Psychology Colleges in South Carolina
- #29 Best Bachelor's Programs in South Carolina
Can I Get In?
How selective Benedict College 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 Benedict College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Benedict College, located in Columbia, South Carolina, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 96%. The graduation rate is roughly 23%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 96%
- Retention Rate
- 57%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 73%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,890
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.37
- First-Gen Students
- 41%
- Applicants
- 6,446
- Admitted
- 4,369
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 Benedict College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Benedict College is $17,440, 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 $18,250. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,177 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $32,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $17,440
- Out-of-State
- $17,440
- Avg Net Price
- $18,250
- Median Debt
- $32,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 62%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 63%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $17,177
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $18,686
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $19,295
- Family Income $110K+
- $20,328
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 Benedict College — 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 Benedict College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Benedict College report median earnings of $31,902, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $24,908
- 8 Years
- $28,081
- 10 Years
- $31,902
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 1.02x
- Earning > $25K
- 30%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (83)
- 15%
- 100% (83)
- 15%
- 100% (83)
- 15%
- 100% (83)
- 15%
How Benedict 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 Benedict College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Benedict College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $18,250/year ($73,000 total). Graduates earn $31,902 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $882,091 in total earnings — a net gain of $809,091 (12.1× your investment). The median debt is $32,500, which takes about a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 23% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $73,000
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $882,091
- Net Return
- $809,091
- ROI Multiple
- 12.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $18,250
- Median Debt
- $32,500
- Debt Payback
- ~1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 23%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-1,168,840
Top Programs
The fields Benedict College 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 20% $27,131 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 17% $33,550 early-career
- Criminal Justice 14% $42,081 early-career
- Psychology 9% $35,271 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 6%
- Communications 4% $29,935 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3%
- Health Professions 3%
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 Benedict College'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 Benedict College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Benedict College, located in Columbia, South Carolina, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 96%. The graduation rate is roughly 23%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Benedict College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Benedict College is $17,440, 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 $18,250. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,177 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $32,500 in federal student loans.
Is Benedict College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Benedict College report median earnings of $31,902, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Benedict College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Benedict College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.78, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.09), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Benedict College.
- Mississippi Valley State UniversityItta Bena, MS · Close peer24% grad $31,919 earn 92% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Central State UniversityWilberforce, OH · Close peer24% grad $33,267 earn 99% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Alabama State UniversityMontgomery, AL · Close peer30% grad $34,502 earn 98% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Edward Waters UniversityJacksonville, FL · Close peer28% grad $34,782 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Paine CollegeAugusta, GA · Close peer17% grad $33,338 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Shaw UniversityRaleigh, NC · Close peer21% grad $34,409 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Benedict College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Benedict College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.78, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.09), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note