Lander University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Lander University charges a net price of $15,363/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $61,452. Median earnings ten years after entry are $42,396, 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, Lander University does not clear its cost — it ranks #22 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) | $15,363/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $61,452 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $42,396 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$5,964/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $25,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$180,732 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Lander University's own numbers. Net price $15,363 × 4 years = $61,452 total. Median earnings $42,396 fall $5,964 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 $61,452 bill in about 6.1 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Lander University students graduate with?
A median $25,000 in federal loans among completers, or 59% of the $42,396 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Lander University students graduate?
50% finish their degree — 50% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $61,452 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $122,904 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Lander University expensive compared with other South Carolina colleges?
Its $15,363 net price runs $632 below the $15,995 median across the 60 South Carolina colleges we profile, and $2,526 less across the full degree.