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
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.
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. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Business & Marketing 28%
- Health Professions 20%
- Psychology 8%
- Education 8%
- Computer Science & IT 7%
- Biology & Biomedical 5%
- Communications 4%
- Engineering 4%
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.
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