Erskine College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Erskine College charges a net price of $16,525/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $66,100. Graduates earn a median $53,459 ten years after entry, $5,099/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 13 years — a 20-year net return of $35,880, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Erskine College's 13-year payback ranks #902 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 30% of them, and #9 of 60 in South Carolina.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $16,525/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $66,100 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $53,459 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $5,099/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $27,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 13 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $35,880 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Erskine College's own numbers. Net price $16,525 × 4 years = $66,100 total. Median earnings $53,459 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $5,099 a year of premium. $66,100 ÷ $5,099 = 13 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $35,880. 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 Erskine College students graduate with?
A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 51% of the $53,459 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Erskine College students graduate?
45% finish their degree — 55% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $66,100 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $146,889 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Erskine College expensive compared with other South Carolina colleges?
Its $16,525 net price runs $531 above the $15,995 median across the 60 South Carolina colleges we profile, or $2,122 more across the full degree.