Erskine College
#2 Best Psychology Colleges in South Carolina- Graduation Rate
- 47% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $53,459 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $16,525 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 63% B
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 24.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $24.4 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Psychology Colleges in South Carolina.
Every $1 spent returns $24.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,544,891.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 31% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $24.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Erskine College Matters
Erskine College is a private doctoral / professional university in Due West, SC and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Doctoral / Professional University
- Carnegie Class
- Doctoral/Professional
- Enrollment
- 766
- Setting
- Rural
- Designations
- 81
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Education, Health Professions
Why students choose Erskine 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
Competitive — admits about 63% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $16,525 a year after grants and scholarships — 4% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $53,459 ten years after enrolling — 31% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 99% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.50 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Erskine College is a solid choice for students looking for a close-knit community with a focus on liberal arts education. With an enrollment of just 766 students and an acceptance rate of 63%, it creates an environment where personalized attention is possible. Students here often delve into programs like Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Health Professions, Education, and Psychology, which cater to a diverse set of interests and career aspirations.
Looking at life after graduation, alumni report an average earnings of $53,459 a decade after finishing their degrees. This figure reflects a pathway that can lead to solid career opportunities, particularly for those who engage actively with their studies and campus life. The affordability of Erskine is also noteworthy, with nearly half of the students receiving Pell Grants, which can ease the financial burden for those who qualify.
When it comes to the practical side of attending Erskine, the net price after aid stands at $16,525, which can make it accessible for many families. However, students should be mindful of the median debt of $27,000 they may carry upon graduation. Those who thrive here often value a supportive community and are motivated to make the most of their educational experience, setting themselves up for success in their chosen fields.
Rankings
- #2 Best Psychology Colleges in South Carolina
- #5 Best Business Colleges in South Carolina
- #7 Best Online Colleges in South Carolina
- #7 Best Education Colleges in South Carolina
- #7 Best Biology Colleges in South Carolina
- #9 Best Colleges in South Carolina
- #10 Best Bachelor's Programs in South Carolina
- #10 Best Master's Programs in South Carolina
Can I Get In?
How selective Erskine College is — and how your numbers stack up.
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Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Erskine College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Due West, South Carolina, Erskine College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 63% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 20. The graduation rate is roughly 47%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 63%
- Retention Rate
- 56%
- ACT Midpoint
- 20
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,645
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.72
- First-Gen Students
- 22%
- Applicants
- 1,585
- Admitted
- 844
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 Erskine College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Erskine College is $36,710, 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 $16,525. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,555 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $36,710
- Out-of-State
- $36,710
- Avg Net Price
- $16,525
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 47%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 75%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $14,555
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $12,666
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $18,652
- Family Income $110K+
- $18,942
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 Erskine 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 Erskine College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Erskine College earn a median of $53,459, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $39,618
- 8 Years
- $43,562
- 10 Years
- $53,459
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.51x
- Earning > $25K
- 54%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (90)
- 48%
- 100% (90)
- 48%
- 100% (90)
- 48%
- 100% (90)
- 48%
How Erskine Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Erskine College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Erskine College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $16,525/year ($66,100 total). Graduates earn $53,459 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,610,991 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,544,891 (24.4× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 47% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $66,100
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,610,991
- Net Return
- $1,544,891
- ROI Multiple
- 24.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $16,525
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 47%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Erskine College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Erskine College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.16%, a more modest figure. About 5.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 2.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $94,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.16%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 2.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $128,664
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $799,077
- Investment Income
- $-4,965,699
Top Programs
The fields Erskine 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 38% $35,271 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 11% $35,271 early-career
- Education 9%
- Health Professions 8%
- Psychology 7%
- Mathematics & Statistics 3%
- English & Literature 3%
- Physical Sciences 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 Erskine 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
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Erskine College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Due West, South Carolina, Erskine College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 63% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 20. The graduation rate is roughly 47%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Erskine College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Erskine College is $36,710, 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 $16,525. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,555 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Erskine College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Erskine College earn a median of $53,459, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Erskine College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Erskine College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.16%, a more modest figure. About 5.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 2.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $94,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Erskine College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Erskine College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.50, 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 Erskine College.
- Cleary UniversityHowell, MI · Close peer41% grad $54,186 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Dakota Wesleyan UniversityMitchell, SD · Close peer47% grad $53,728 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Mount St. Joseph UniversityCincinnati, OH · Close peer56% grad $51,509 earn 59% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- LaGrange CollegeLagrange, GA · Close peer44% grad $51,745 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Louisiana Christian UniversityPineville, LA · Close peer42% grad $51,700 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Bluffton UniversityBluffton, OH · Close peer51% grad $49,547 earn 67% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Erskine College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Erskine College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.50, 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