Coastal Carolina University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Coastal Carolina University charges a net price of $13,966/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $55,864. Median earnings ten years after entry are $47,258, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Coastal Carolina University does not clear its cost — it ranks #13 of 60 South Carolina colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $13,966/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $55,864 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $47,258 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$1,102/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $23,750 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$77,904 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Coastal Carolina University's own numbers. Net price $13,966 × 4 years = $55,864 total. Median earnings $47,258 fall $1,102 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $55,864 bill in about 5.6 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Coastal Carolina University students graduate with?
A median $23,750 in federal loans among completers, or 50% of the $47,258 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Coastal Carolina University students graduate?
48% finish their degree — 52% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $55,864 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $116,383 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Coastal Carolina University expensive compared with other South Carolina colleges?
Its $13,966 net price runs $2,029 below the $15,995 median across the 60 South Carolina colleges we profile, and $8,114 less across the full degree.