College of Charleston — ROI, Cost & Payback
College of Charleston charges a net price of $18,960/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $75,840. Graduates earn a median $56,416 ten years after entry, $8,056/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 9.4 years — a 20-year net return of $85,280, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
College of Charleston's 9.4-year payback ranks #764 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 40% of them, and #8 of 60 in South Carolina.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $18,960/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $75,840 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $56,416 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $8,056/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $23,250 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 9.4 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $85,280 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on College of Charleston's own numbers. Net price $18,960 × 4 years = $75,840 total. Median earnings $56,416 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $8,056 a year of premium. $75,840 ÷ $8,056 = 9.4 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $85,280. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do College of Charleston students graduate with?
A median $23,250 in federal loans among completers, or 41% of the $56,416 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of College of Charleston students graduate?
66% finish their degree — 34% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $75,840 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $114,909 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is College of Charleston expensive compared with other South Carolina colleges?
Its $18,960 net price runs $2,966 above the $15,995 median across the 60 South Carolina colleges we profile, or $11,862 more across the full degree.