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University of South Carolina Beaufort — ROI, Cost & Payback

Public · Bluffton, SC · 2,052 students

The verdict

University of South Carolina Beaufort charges a net price of $14,656/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $58,624. Median earnings ten years after entry are $48,088, 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.)

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On institution-wide earnings, University of South Carolina Beaufort does not clear its cost — it ranks #11 of 60 South Carolina colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.

$14,656
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$48,088
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
Payback
Our math, 2026
73%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
University of South Carolina Beaufort: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$14,656/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$58,624our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$48,088Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline-$272/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$24,000Scorecard, 2026
Paybackdoes not clearour math
20-year net return-$64,064our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on University of South Carolina Beaufort's own numbers. Net price $14,656 × 4 years = $58,624 total. Median earnings $48,088 fall $272 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 $58,624 bill in about 5.9 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.

How much debt do University of South Carolina Beaufort students graduate with?

A median $24,000 in federal loans among completers, or 50% of the $48,088 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 Beaufort students graduate?

34% finish their degree — 66% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $58,624 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $172,424 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is University of South Carolina Beaufort expensive compared with other South Carolina colleges?

Its $14,656 net price runs $1,339 below the $15,995 median across the 60 South Carolina colleges we profile, and $5,354 less across the full degree.

University of South Carolina Beaufort: frequently asked questions

Is University of South Carolina Beaufort worth the cost?
On institution-wide earnings, the degree does not clear its cost: graduates earn a median $48,088, at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline. The field you study matters far more here than the school average — a high-paying major can flip the math.
How long does a University of South Carolina Beaufort degree take to pay off?
On institution-wide earnings it does not pay back, because median earnings sit at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline. A specific high-ROI program can still pay off.
How much does University of South Carolina Beaufort cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $14,656/yr — about $58,624 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does University of South Carolina Beaufort compare to other South Carolina colleges?
It ranks #11 of 60 South Carolina colleges we track by payback. Its $48,088 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $14,656 net price is below the national median of $16,902.