University of South Carolina Aiken — ROI, Cost & Payback
University of South Carolina Aiken charges a net price of $11,641/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $46,564. Median earnings ten years after entry are $45,603, 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, University of South Carolina Aiken does not clear its cost — it ranks #16 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) | $11,641/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $46,564 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $45,603 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$2,757/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $24,275 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$101,704 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on University of South Carolina Aiken's own numbers. Net price $11,641 × 4 years = $46,564 total. Median earnings $45,603 fall $2,757 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 $46,564 bill in about 4.7 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do University of South Carolina Aiken students graduate with?
A median $24,275 in federal loans among completers, or 53% of the $45,603 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of University of South Carolina Aiken students graduate?
40% finish their degree — 60% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $46,564 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $116,410 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is University of South Carolina Aiken expensive compared with other South Carolina colleges?
Its $11,641 net price runs $4,354 below the $15,995 median across the 60 South Carolina colleges we profile, and $17,414 less across the full degree.