University of South Carolina Aiken
- Graduation Rate
- 40% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $45,603 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $11,641 B-
- 32% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 79% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 23.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $23.1 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $23.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,028,086.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 40% — 30% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $23.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of South Carolina Aiken Matters
University of South Carolina Aiken is a public university in Aiken, 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
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 2,962
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology, Education
Why students choose University of South Carolina Aiken
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 79% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 980–1220. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $11,641 a year after grants and scholarships — 32% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $45,603 ten years after enrolling — 12% above the typical college, against $24,275 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.24 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 2,962 students and an acceptance rate of 79%, the University of South Carolina Aiken is a good fit for those seeking a supportive environment where they can pursue popular fields such as Business and Marketing, Health Professions, Computer Science and IT, Psychology, and Communications. It’s a place that welcomes students who may thrive in a more personalized educational setting while still having access to a variety of programs.
After graduation, students earn an average salary of $45,603 within ten years, which gives a solid indication of the potential return on investment. While the graduation rate is 40%, many students find paths that suit their career aspirations, and the affordability factor is significant; the net price after financial aid is around $11,641. This affordability can play a crucial role in post-college life, allowing graduates to focus on their careers rather than being burdened by excessive student debt.
Looking at the financial aspects, the median debt for graduates stands at $24,275, which is manageable compared to the earnings potential. Students who often thrive here are those who take advantage of financial aid opportunities, like the 39% of students receiving Pell Grants. This supportive community can be particularly beneficial for first-generation college students or those seeking a more affordable route to higher education.
Rankings
- #12 Best Communications Colleges in South Carolina
- #14 Most Affordable Colleges in South Carolina
- #16 Best Computer Science Colleges in South Carolina
- #16 Best Data Science Colleges in South Carolina
- #18 Best Nursing Colleges in South Carolina
- #21 Best Education Colleges in South Carolina
- #22 Best Bachelor's Programs in South Carolina
- #22 Best Business Colleges in South Carolina
Can I Get In?
How selective University of South Carolina Aiken 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 University of South Carolina Aiken? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Aiken, South Carolina, University of South Carolina Aiken admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 79%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,120. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Retention Rate
- 67%
- SAT Average
- 1120
- ACT Midpoint
- 20
- SAT Range
- 980–1220
- ACT Range
- 19–26
- Full-Time Faculty
- 61%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,537
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.61
- First-Gen Students
- 33%
- Applicants
- 2,453
- Admitted
- 1,855
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard University of South Carolina Aiken is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 23% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 23%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 29%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 15%
- of enrolled freshmen
There is an early lane. University offers Early Action, so you can apply ahead of the regular deadline and hear back sooner without committing to enroll.
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 44% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
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 University of South Carolina Aiken? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of South Carolina Aiken is $21,218, 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 $11,641. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,987 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,275 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $10,760
- Out-of-State
- $21,218
- Avg Net Price
- $11,641
- Median Debt
- $24,275
- Pell Grant Rate
- 39%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 43%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $8,987
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,435
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,440
- Family Income $110K+
- $17,502
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 University of South Carolina Aiken — 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 University of South Carolina Aiken Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of South Carolina Aiken earn a median of $45,603, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $39,689
- 8 Years
- $43,669
- 10 Years
- $45,603
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.53x
- Earning > $25K
- 62%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (145)
- 24%
- 100% (145)
- 24%
- 100% (145)
- 24%
- 100% (145)
- 24%
How University 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 University of South Carolina Aiken Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of South Carolina Aiken delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $11,641/year ($46,564 total). Graduates earn $45,603 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,074,650 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,028,086 (23.1× your investment). The median debt is $24,275, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 40% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $46,564
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,074,650
- Net Return
- $1,028,086
- ROI Multiple
- 23.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $11,641
- Median Debt
- $24,275
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 40%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $2,228,942
- Investment Income
- $14,611
Top Programs
The fields University of South Carolina Aiken 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 28% $44,852 early-career
- Health Professions 20% $72,110 early-career
- Psychology 8% $28,558 early-career
- Education 8% $42,251 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7%
- Biology & Biomedical 5% $40,390 early-career
- Communications 4% $36,418 early-career
- Engineering 4%
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 University of South Carolina Aiken'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 University of South Carolina Aiken? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Aiken, South Carolina, University of South Carolina Aiken admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 79%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,120. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of South Carolina Aiken? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of South Carolina Aiken is $21,218, 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 $11,641. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,987 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,275 in federal student loans.
Is University of South Carolina Aiken Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of South Carolina Aiken earn a median of $45,603, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is University of South Carolina Aiken? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of South Carolina Aiken. Its economic connectedness score is 1.24, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does University of South Carolina Aiken offer Early Decision?
No. University of South Carolina Aiken does not report a binding Early Decision plan, though it does offer a non-binding Early Action option (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is University of South Carolina Aiken really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 44% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at University of South Carolina Aiken (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at University of South Carolina Aiken?
About 23% of admitted students choose to enroll at University of South Carolina Aiken — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of South Carolina Aiken.
- University of Wisconsin-ParksideKenosha, WI · Close peer40% grad $51,129 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Fort Lewis CollegeDurango, CO · Close peer39% grad $46,349 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Southeastern Oklahoma State UniversityDurant, OK · Close peer32% grad $45,079 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Francis Marion UniversityFlorence, SC · Close peer43% grad $43,888 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Southern Arkansas University Main CampusMagnolia, AR · Close peer48% grad $42,386 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Georgia Southwestern State UniversityAmericus, GA · Close peer36% grad $48,757 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of South Carolina Aiken? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of South Carolina Aiken. Its economic connectedness score is 1.24, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note