College Grad Analyst
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South Carolina · Public · Predominantly bachelor's

South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina. 28,113 undergraduate students. 244 programs in the federal Field-of-Study dataset.

UNITID 218663 · OPEID 003448 · IPEDS HDVINTAGE · COLLEGE SCORECARD · 2025-05 · HISTORY 1996–2024
ANOMALY ENGINE · NOTABLE SIGNALS

What the data flags at South Carolina

Short-arc shifts (recent 3-year window), peer outliers, earnings trend breaks, completion drops, enrollment cliffs, and debt-to-earnings warnings — surfaced deterministically from the federal record. Multi-decade shifts are reported separately in the Long Arc section, since 25-year tuition drift isn't really an anomaly.

LONG-ARC SHIFT · TRENDING BETTER-100%

3-year cohort default rate

3-year cohort default rate at University of South Carolina-Columbia fell 100% between 2021 and 2024 (1.6% → 0.0%).

PEER OUTLIER · TRENDING BETTER+30%

Public bachelor's-predominant peer

10-year earnings at University of South Carolina-Columbia are 30% above the public bachelor's-predominant peer median ($62.2k vs $47.7k).

LONG-ARC SHIFT · TRENDING BETTER+13%

Undergraduate enrollment

Undergraduate enrollment at University of South Carolina-Columbia rose 13% between 2021 and 2024 (26.4k → 29.8k).

SECTION 01 · OUTCOMES SNAPSHOT

The numbers, vs. South Carolina

Each tile compares this institution to the South Carolina median for the same metric. Sub-line shows the comparison value, not an interpretation. Sparklines trace the federally available history.

MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10Y
$62,177+23% · 6→10y
South Carolina median $39,325
MEDIAN EARNINGS · 6Y
$50,621
Treasury earnings · 6y post-entry
COMPLETION · 150%
77.8%+40% · '97→'24
South Carolina median 44.4%
MEDIAN FEDERAL DEBT
$18,500+123% · '97→'20
At program completion
UNDERGRAD ENROLLMENT
28,113+110% · '96→'24
latest IPEDS
RETENTION
90.7%+8% · '04→'24
first-time, full-time
ADMISSION RATE
61.5%-14% · '01→'24
latest cohort
IN-STATE TUITION
$12,688+237% · '00→'24
out-of-state $34,934
SECTION 02 · EARNINGS HORIZONS

How earnings spread, 4 to 10 years after entry

Treasury tax-record earnings for federally aided students who first enrolled at this institution. Each point is a horizon from the most-recent vintage. Single median per horizon (no p25/p75 publishing).

ALL FEDERALLY AIDED STUDENTS · TAX-RECORD EARNINGSVINTAGE 2025-05
Earnings widen with time post-entry. Selection: federal-aid recipients only — not all graduates.Methodology →
SECTION 03 · DEBT-TO-EARNINGS

What loans cost relative to earnings

Annual debt service as a share of median earnings 10 years after entry, computed under federal Direct loan terms (10-year fixed at 6%). The 8% line is the gainful-employment threshold from federal regulation; above 12% has historically been considered “failing” under prior rule cycles.

Institution-wide

4.0%
0%8% · GE20%+

Median federal debt $18,500 amortized over 10 years vs. median earnings $62,177 (10y after entry).

SECTION 04 · LONG ARC

Ten-plus year arc

Federally available history. Coverage varies by metric — IPEDS publishes some series only after 2009 and others only before.

UNDERGRAD · 1996–202429,820
29,82014,22519962024
Undergraduate enrollment.IPEDS EF
COMPLETION 150% · 1997–202478.8%
79%55%19972024
150%-time completion rate.IPEDS GR
MEDIAN DEBT · 1997–2020$21,500
$23,000$9,62519972020
Median federal student debt at exit.SCORECARD
COMPLETION · 150% · 1997→2024+40%

South Carolina · completion · 150% rose

56.2% → 78.8%

COMPLETION · 100% · 1997→2024+181%

South Carolina · completion · 100% rose

24.8% → 69.7%

UNDERGRAD ENROLLMENT · 1996→2024+110%

South Carolina · undergrad enrollment rose

14,225 → 29,820

IN-STATE TUITION · 2000→2024+237%

South Carolina · in-state tuition rose

$3,768 → $12,688

OUT-OF-STATE TUITION · 2000→2024+258%

South Carolina · out-of-state tuition rose

$10,054 → $35,972

MEDIAN DEBT · 1997→2020+123%

South Carolina · median debt rose

$9,625 → $21,500

COHORT DEFAULT RATE · 2011→2024-100%

South Carolina · cohort default rate fell

3.0% → 0.0%

EARNINGS_MEDIAN_10YR · 2007→2020+40%

South Carolina · earnings_median_10yr rose

$44,500 → $62,177

EARNINGS_MEDIAN_8YR · 2005→2020+41%

South Carolina · earnings_median_8yr rose

$41,000 → $57,722

EARNINGS_MEDIAN_6YR · 2003→2020+43%

South Carolina · earnings_median_6yr rose

$35,500 → $50,621

SECTION 05 · PROGRAMS

Ranked by 5-year earnings

Each row is one (CIP × credential) program reported by the institution in College Scorecard's Field-of-Study data. Cohort floor is 30 students; below this, federal data is suppressed.

Medicine.CIP 5112 · First Professional Degree$162,139206 gradsRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.CIP 5138 · Master's Degree$157,539185 gradsPharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.CIP 5120 · First Professional Degree$135,032103 gradsBusiness Administration, Management and Operations.CIP 5202 · Master's Degree$134,510192 gradsInternational Business.CIP 5211 · Master's Degree$125,62184 gradsHuman Resources Management and Services.CIP 5210 · Master's Degree$122,35341 gradsInternational Business.CIP 5211 · Bachelor's Degree$105,852147 gradsAccounting and Related Services.CIP 5203 · Master's Degree$101,53557 gradsBusiness/Managerial Economics.CIP 5206 · Bachelor's Degree$101,30750 gradsChemical Engineering.CIP 1407 · Bachelor's Degree$99,91268 gradsElectrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.CIP 1410 · Bachelor's Degree$98,75848 gradsLaw.CIP 2201 · First Professional Degree$95,937199 gradsFinance and Financial Management Services.CIP 5208 · Bachelor's Degree$91,441553 gradsManagement Sciences and Quantitative Methods.CIP 5213 · Bachelor's Degree$91,024204 gradsPublic Health.CIP 5122 · Doctoral Degree$89,15816 gradsMechanical Engineering.CIP 1419 · Bachelor's Degree$88,180207 gradsComputer Engineering.CIP 1409 · Bachelor's Degree$87,71035 gradsCivil Engineering.CIP 1408 · Bachelor's Degree$87,61772 gradsComputer and Information Sciences, General.CIP 1101 · Bachelor's Degree$87,069236 gradsHealth and Medical Administrative Services.CIP 5107 · Master's Degree$85,47720 gradsInsurance.CIP 5217 · Bachelor's Degree$85,286124 gradsAccounting and Related Services.CIP 5203 · Bachelor's Degree$84,344149 gradsRehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.CIP 5123 · Doctoral Degree$82,24823 gradsMarketing.CIP 5214 · Bachelor's Degree$77,355335 grads
Showing top 24 of 72 ranked programs.244 TOTAL PROGRAMS
SECTION 06 · BY CIP FAMILY

72 programs with earnings, grouped

Programs are grouped by 2-digit CIP family. Programs without reported earnings are hidden to keep the list focused.

COMPUTER & INFORMATION SCIENCES · CIP 11

Computer and Information Sciences, General.Bachelor's Degree$87,069236 grads

EDUCATION · CIP 13

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.Bachelor's Degree$43,561174 gradsEducational Administration and Supervision.Master's Degree$68,54273 gradsTeacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.Master's Degree$47,94753 gradsTeacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas.Master's Degree$51,38130 gradsTeacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas.Bachelor's Degree$41,60826 gradsStudent Counseling and Personnel Services.Master's Degree$54,02121 grads

ENGINEERING · CIP 14

Mechanical Engineering.Bachelor's Degree$88,180207 gradsCivil Engineering.Bachelor's Degree$87,61772 gradsChemical Engineering.Bachelor's Degree$99,91268 gradsElectrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.Bachelor's Degree$98,75848 gradsComputer Engineering.Bachelor's Degree$87,71035 gradsBiomedical/Medical Engineering.Bachelor's Degree$73,34231 grads

FOREIGN LANGUAGES · CIP 16

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.Bachelor's Degree$60,16442 grads

LEGAL PROFESSIONS · CIP 22

Law.First Professional Degree$95,937199 grads

ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE · CIP 23

English Language and Literature, General.Bachelor's Degree$46,29785 grads

LIBERAL ARTS & GENERAL STUDIES · CIP 24

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.Bachelor's Degree$41,776129 grads

LIBRARY SCIENCE · CIP 25

Library Science and Administration.Master's Degree$51,188119 grads

BIOLOGICAL & BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES · CIP 26

Biology, General.Bachelor's Degree$60,846279 gradsPhysiology, Pathology and Related Sciences.Bachelor's Degree$62,997240 gradsEcology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology.Bachelor's Degree$47,53664 gradsBiology, General.Master's Degree$62,27214 gradsBiology, General.Doctoral Degree$75,32911 grads

MATHEMATICS & STATISTICS · CIP 27

Mathematics.Bachelor's Degree$74,65047 grads

PARKS, RECREATION & FITNESS · CIP 31

Health and Physical Education/Fitness.Bachelor's Degree$63,908220 gradsHealth and Physical Education/Fitness.Master's Degree$58,07652 grads

PHYSICAL SCIENCES · CIP 40

Chemistry.Bachelor's Degree$70,13835 grads

PSYCHOLOGY · CIP 42

Research and Experimental Psychology.Bachelor's Degree$48,055338 grads

HOMELAND SECURITY & PROTECTIVE SERVICES · CIP 43

Criminal Justice and Corrections.Bachelor's Degree$49,134216 grads

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION & SOCIAL SERVICES · CIP 44

Social Work.Master's Degree$53,727153 gradsSocial Work.Bachelor's Degree$45,16933 grads

SOCIAL SCIENCES · CIP 45

Political Science and Government.Bachelor's Degree$60,403196 gradsEconomics.Bachelor's Degree$68,89085 gradsSociology.Bachelor's Degree$43,42644 gradsInternational Relations and National Security Studies.Bachelor's Degree$55,76336 gradsAnthropology.Bachelor's Degree$42,35025 gradsGeography and Cartography.Bachelor's Degree$53,71920 grads

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS · CIP 50

Film/Video and Photographic Arts.Bachelor's Degree$40,191109 gradsFine and Studio Arts.Bachelor's Degree$40,79070 gradsMusic.Bachelor's Degree$48,50556 gradsMusic.Doctoral Degree$53,18115 grads

HEALTH PROFESSIONS · CIP 51

Public Health.Bachelor's Degree$55,090493 gradsRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.Bachelor's Degree$74,996255 gradsMedicine.First Professional Degree$162,139206 gradsRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.Master's Degree$157,539185 gradsPharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.First Professional Degree$135,032103 gradsCommunication Disorders Sciences and Services.Master's Degree$63,52352 gradsPublic Health.Master's Degree$71,15943 gradsRehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.Doctoral Degree$82,24823 gradsAllied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.Bachelor's Degree$51,77721 gradsHealth and Medical Administrative Services.Master's Degree$85,47720 gradsPublic Health.Doctoral Degree$89,15816 grads

BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT & MARKETING · CIP 52

Finance and Financial Management Services.Bachelor's Degree$91,441553 gradsMarketing.Bachelor's Degree$77,355335 gradsBusiness Administration, Management and Operations.Bachelor's Degree$69,907272 gradsManagement Sciences and Quantitative Methods.Bachelor's Degree$91,024204 gradsBusiness Administration, Management and Operations.Master's Degree$134,510192 gradsHospitality Administration/Management.Bachelor's Degree$53,539183 gradsGeneral Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations.Bachelor's Degree$55,908175 gradsAccounting and Related Services.Bachelor's Degree$84,344149 gradsInternational Business.Bachelor's Degree$105,852147 gradsInsurance.Bachelor's Degree$85,286124 gradsInternational Business.Master's Degree$125,62184 gradsAccounting and Related Services.Master's Degree$101,53557 gradsBusiness/Managerial Economics.Bachelor's Degree$101,30750 gradsHuman Resources Management and Services.Master's Degree$122,35341 grads

HISTORY · CIP 54

History.Bachelor's Degree$51,17591 grads

NATURAL RESOURCES & CONSERVATION · CIP 03

Natural Resources Conservation and Research.Bachelor's Degree$63,19647 grads

AREA, ETHNIC & CULTURAL STUDIES · CIP 05

Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies.Bachelor's Degree$47,91220 grads

COMMUNICATION & JOURNALISM · CIP 09

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication.Bachelor's Degree$66,664277 gradsJournalism.Bachelor's Degree$51,44173 gradsRadio, Television, and Digital Communication.Bachelor's Degree$59,32655 grads
FINANCIAL OUTCOME · ILLUSTRATION

Estimate the financial outcome at South Carolina

Pick a program. Cost from Scorecard net price by family income; earnings from Treasury 5-year-post-completion median, projected forward with a Mincer age-earnings curve. The selection-bias toggle applies the Dale-Krueger shrinkage. Outcomes illustration, not a forecast — see methodology.

Shrinks the earnings premium toward the matched-applicant mean. STEM <15%, business ~40%, arts & education ~60%.

NET PRESENT VALUE
$1,031,349
Over 40 years, discounted 5.0%
BREAKEVEN
Year 6
First year cumulative discounted earnings cross zero
graduationbreakeven · year 6year 0year 39
Cost per year
$22,744
HS-only baseline · SC
$33,700
Years to complete
4
CIP family
52

Outcomes illustration · not a forecast. Projects observed Scorecard earnings forward with a Mincer age-earnings curve under your assumptions. See methodology for the math.

SECTION 07 · SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS

Same sector and degree mix in South Carolina

Picked by Carnegie sector × predominant credential level. These are not rankings — just nearest-neighbour surfaces for comparison.

CLEMSON$71.5k

Clemson

Public · Predominantly bachelor's · 88% completion
CHARLESTON$56.4k

College of Charleston

Public · Predominantly bachelor's · 65% completion
CONWAY$47.3k

Coastal Carolina University

Public · Predominantly bachelor's · 51% completion
SPARTANBURG$48.6k

University of South Carolina-Upstate

Public · Predominantly bachelor's · 42% completion
ROCK HILL$47.2k

Winthrop University

Public · Predominantly bachelor's · 61% completion
CAUSAL DISCIPLINE

“South Carolina graduates earn $X” — not “South Carolina makes you earn $X”

Median earnings describe what cohorts earned. They do not describe what attending South Carolina caused. Selection effects (who admits, who enrolls, who completes) are real. We publish federal data with strict descriptive phrasing — and link the methodology where you can read about the limitations directly.

Methodology →