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Benedict College

Private nonprofit Columbia, SC · Urban · Southeast · 93% data reported · Agent Insights · Claim Your School's Profile ➜
23%
Graduation Rate
$31,902
Earnings (10yr)
$18,250
Net Price
96%
Acceptance Rate
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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

Close mentorship
A small, undergraduate-focused community
HBCU community
A historically Black college with a strong leadership pipeline
Strength in Business & Marketing
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

D
Top 76% overall
D+
Earnings
$31,902 median
D+
Value
1.7× net price
C
Affordability
$18,250/yr net
F
Graduation
23% graduate
F
Selectivity
96% admit rate
D
Diversity
0.37 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

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

1

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.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Benedict College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Benedict College, located in Columbia, South Carolina, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 96% of those who apply. The school reports a graduation rate of 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
2

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

When weighing the true cost of attending Benedict College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $17,440 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $18,250 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,177 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $32,500.

$17,440
In-State Tuition
$17,440
Out-of-State
$18,250
Avg Net Price
$32,500
Median Debt
62%
Pell Grant Rate
63%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$17,177
Family Income $0–$30K
$18,686
Family Income $30K–$48K
$19,295
Family Income $48K–$75K
$20,328
Family Income $110K+
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Benedict College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Benedict College report median earnings of $31,902; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.

$24,908
6 Years After Entry
$28,081
8 Years
$31,902
10 Years
1.02x
Debt-to-Earnings
30%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$24,908 6yr $28,081 8yr $31,902 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

15%
100% (83)
15%
100% (83)
15%
100% (83)
15%
100% (83)

How Benedict Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation23%Earnings 10yr$32KNet Price$18KRetention57%Median Debt$33KPell Grant Rate62%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$17K$0-30K$19K$30-48K$19K$48-75K$20K$110K+

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.

$73,000
Total Cost (4yr)
$882,091
Projected 20yr Earnings
$809,091
Net Return
12.1×
ROI Multiple
$18,250
Cost Per Year
$32,500
Median Debt
~1 yr
Debt Payback
23%
Graduation Rate
4

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

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, with an economic connectedness score of 0.78 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.09), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

0.78
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
-0.09
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
2.3%
Volunteering Rate
1.00
Support Ratio
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
Total Expenses
Federal Grants
$-1,168,840
Investment Income

Top Programs

The fields Benedict College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Benedict College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +

Benedict College, located in Columbia, South Carolina, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 96% of those who apply. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 23%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Benedict College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +

When weighing the true cost of attending Benedict College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $17,440 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $18,250 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,177 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $32,500.

Is Benedict College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +

Ten years out, alumni of Benedict College report median earnings of $31,902; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.

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, with an economic connectedness score of 0.78 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.09), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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