Cost of college in South Carolina
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in South Carolina averages $12,457 a year, or $18,775 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $57,183 and owe about $22,192. The net price pays back in about 4.9 years.
How South Carolina compares to the US
South Carolina ranks #13 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #21 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #30 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | South Carolina | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $12,457 | $9,518 | +$2,939 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $32,007 | $23,652 | +$8,355 |
| Net price after aid | $18,775 | $13,788 | +$4,987 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $57,183 | $56,427 | +$756 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,192 | $17,856 | +$4,336 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in South Carolina pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in South Carolina costs about $75,100 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 4.9 years from the roughly $15,383-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #30 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in South Carolina list about $31,849 in tuition and net out to about $20,598 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in South Carolina?
At a public 4-year college in South Carolina, in-state tuition and fees average about $12,457 a year and out-of-state runs about $32,007. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $18,775. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in South Carolina earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from South Carolina's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $57,183 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $22,192 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in South Carolina?
A public 4-year degree in South Carolina costs about $75,100 over four years at net price and recoups in about 4.9 years from the roughly $15,383-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.