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University of South Carolina Beaufort

Public Bluffton, SC · Town · Southeast · 93% data
B- Earnings C+ Value C+ Affordability
Graduation Rate
36% D
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$48,088 B-
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$14,656 C+
Close to the national average
Acceptance Rate
73% C+
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +18% vs avg
Graduation -36% vs avg
Net Price +-14% vs avg

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 21.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.2 over 20 years.

21.2× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $21.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,184,567.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduation of 36% — 36% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $21.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why University of South Carolina Beaufort Matters

University of South Carolina Beaufort is a public college in Bluffton, 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 College
Carnegie Class
Baccalaureate College
Enrollment
2,052
Setting
Town
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Psychology, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical

Why students choose University of South Carolina Beaufort

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Close mentorship
A small, undergraduate-focused community
Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C+
Top 45% overall
B-
Earnings
$48,088 median
C+
Value
3.3× net price
C+
Affordability
$14,656/yr net
D
Graduation
36% graduate
C+
Selectivity
73% admit rate
C
Diversity
0.60 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

The University of South Carolina Beaufort is a solid option for students looking for a public university experience in a friendly setting. With an acceptance rate of 73%, it welcomes a diverse group of students, particularly those interested in Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Social Sciences, and Biology & Biomedical programs. The smaller enrollment of around 2,052 students allows for a more personalized experience, making it easier for students to connect with faculty and peers.

After graduation, students can expect to earn a median salary of $48,088 ten years down the line. This figure gives a good sense of the potential return on investment, especially considering that 40% of students receive Pell Grants, which can help ease financial burdens. While the graduation rate sits at 36%, those who complete their degrees often see positive outcomes, leading to better job opportunities and career advancement.

In terms of finances, the net price after aid is about $14,656, which is manageable for many families. Graduates leave with a median debt of $24,000, a figure that many find accessible in relation to their earning potential. Students who thrive here often appreciate a close-knit community and a supportive academic environment, making it a good fit for those who value personal connections alongside their studies.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective University of South Carolina Beaufort 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 University of South Carolina Beaufort? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

University of South Carolina Beaufort, located in Bluffton, South Carolina, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 73%. The graduation rate is roughly 36%.

Acceptance Rate
73%
Retention Rate
61%
Full-Time Faculty
53%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$8,392
Student–Faculty Ratio
14:1
Diversity Index
0.60
First-Gen Students
31%
Applicants
2,479
Admitted
1,984

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 Beaufort? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at University of South Carolina Beaufort is $21,776, 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 $14,656. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,397 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$10,730
Out-of-State
$21,776
Avg Net Price
$14,656
Median Debt
$24,000
Pell Grant Rate
40%
Federal Loan Rate
49%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$11,397
Family Income $30K–$48K
$10,614
Family Income $48K–$75K
$13,846
Family Income $110K+
$20,250

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is University of South Carolina Beaufort Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of South Carolina Beaufort earn a median of $48,088, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$39,214
8 Years
$43,141
10 Years
$48,088
Debt-to-Earnings
0.5x
Earning > $25K
58%

Earnings Trajectory

$39,214 6yr $43,141 8yr $48,088 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (86)
23%
100% (86)
23%
100% (86)
23%
100% (86)
23%

How University Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation36%Earnings 10yr$48KNet Price$15KRetention61%Median Debt$24KPell Grant Rate40%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$11K$0-30K$11K$30-48K$14K$48-75K$20K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is University of South Carolina Beaufort 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 Beaufort delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,656/year ($58,624 total). Graduates earn $48,088 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,243,191 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,184,567 (21.2× your investment). The median debt is $24,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 36% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$58,624
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,243,191
Net Return
$1,184,567
ROI Multiple
21.2×
Cost Per Year
$14,656
Median Debt
$24,000
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
36%

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 University of South Carolina Beaufort? 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 Beaufort. Its economic connectedness score is 1.20, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), 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.

Economic Connectedness
1.20
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.03
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
5.2%
Support Ratio
0.99
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
$9,284,476
Federal Grants
$1,815,527
Investment Income
$2,407

Top Programs

The fields University of South Carolina Beaufort 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 University of South Carolina Beaufort? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

University of South Carolina Beaufort, located in Bluffton, South Carolina, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 73%. The graduation rate is roughly 36%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of South Carolina Beaufort? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at University of South Carolina Beaufort is $21,776, 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 $14,656. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,397 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,000 in federal student loans.

Is University of South Carolina Beaufort Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of South Carolina Beaufort earn a median of $48,088, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

How Connected Is University of South Carolina Beaufort? 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 Beaufort. Its economic connectedness score is 1.20, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), 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.

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Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of South Carolina Beaufort.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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