Winthrop University
#4 Best Education Colleges in South Carolina- Graduation Rate
- 59% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $47,185 B-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $15,343 C+
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 79% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 19.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.4 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Education Colleges in South Carolina.
Every $1 spent returns $19.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,132,183.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $19.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Winthrop University Matters
Winthrop University is a public university in Rock Hill, 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
- 3,523
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Education, Visual & Performing Arts, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Winthrop University
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 1010–1220. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $15,343 a year after grants and scholarships — 10% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $47,185 ten years after enrolling — 16% above the typical college, against $26,975 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.4% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 54% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.36 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of 79%, Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC, is welcoming to a diverse group of students. It’s particularly well-suited for those interested in fields like Business, Education, or the Arts, where students can dive into programs that blend theory with practical applications. The community here is supportive, making it easier to transition into college life and focus on what truly matters—your education and future career.
Graduates from Winthrop can expect to earn around $47,185 a decade after finishing their studies. This figure suggests that students who complete their degrees are finding solid opportunities in the job market. The affordability factor is also a plus, with a net price of about $15,343 after financial aid. This means that many students can graduate with manageable debt levels, averaging around $26,975, which is particularly important for those balancing their studies with financial considerations.
In practical terms, Winthrop suits students who are looking for a supportive environment where they can thrive academically and socially. The combination of reasonable costs and solid earning potential makes it a viable option for those ready to invest in their education and future. It's a place where driven individuals can find their path, especially in fields that resonate with their passions and career aspirations.
Rankings
- #4 Best Education Colleges in South Carolina
- #4 Best Communications Colleges in South Carolina
- #5 Best Online Colleges in South Carolina
- #7 Best Colleges in South Carolina
- #7 Best Bachelor's Programs in South Carolina
- #7 Best Master's Programs in South Carolina
- #9 Best Biology Colleges in South Carolina
- #12 Best Business Colleges in South Carolina
Can I Get In?
How selective Winthrop University 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 Winthrop University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Winthrop University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 79%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,139. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Retention Rate
- 74%
- SAT Average
- 1139
- ACT Midpoint
- 23
- SAT Range
- 1010–1220
- ACT Range
- 20–27
- Full-Time Faculty
- 64%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,923
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.65
- First-Gen Students
- 28%
- Applicants
- 5,099
- Admitted
- 3,557
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 Winthrop University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Winthrop University is $28,676, 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 $15,343. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,608 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,975 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $14,678
- Out-of-State
- $28,676
- Avg Net Price
- $15,343
- Median Debt
- $26,975
- Pell Grant Rate
- 41%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 54%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,608
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $12,983
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $13,966
- Family Income $110K+
- $21,359
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 Winthrop University — 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 Winthrop University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Winthrop University earn a median of $47,185, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $39,048
- 8 Years
- $42,584
- 10 Years
- $47,185
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.57x
- Earning > $25K
- 60%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (473)
- 46%
- 100% (473)
- 46%
- 100% (473)
- 46%
- 100% (473)
- 46%
How Winthrop 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 Winthrop University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Winthrop University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $15,343/year ($61,372 total). Graduates earn $47,185 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,193,555 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,132,183 (19.4× your investment). The median debt is $26,975, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 59% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $61,372
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,193,555
- Net Return
- $1,132,183
- ROI Multiple
- 19.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $15,343
- Median Debt
- $26,975
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 59%
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 Winthrop University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Winthrop University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.39%, well above the typical college. About 7.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 18.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $84,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.39%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 18.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 7.6%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $114,262
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $4,073,829
- Investment Income
- $-1,484,445
Top Programs
The fields Winthrop University 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 18% $47,847 early-career
- Education 13% $41,171 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 13% $41,912 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 8% $31,037 early-career
- Psychology 7% $27,817 early-career
- Social Sciences 6% $33,427 early-career
- Communications 4% $39,756 early-career
- English & Literature 4% $27,050 early-career
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 Winthrop University'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
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Winthrop University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Winthrop University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 79%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,139. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Winthrop University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Winthrop University is $28,676, 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 $15,343. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,608 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,975 in federal student loans.
Is Winthrop University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Winthrop University earn a median of $47,185, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Winthrop University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Winthrop University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.39%, well above the typical college. About 7.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 18.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $84,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Winthrop University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Winthrop University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.36, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Winthrop University.
- University of Nebraska at KearneyKearney, NE · Close peer59% grad $50,105 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- SUNY College of Technology at AlfredAlfred, NY · Close peer54% grad $50,445 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Lander UniversityGreenwood, SC · Close peer49% grad $42,396 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Vermont State UniversityRandolph, VT · Close peer48% grad $50,331 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Pittsburg State UniversityPittsburg, KS · Close peer57% grad $50,579 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Southern MainePortland, ME · Close peer43% grad $49,958 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Winthrop University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Winthrop University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.36, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note