Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

University of South Carolina-Sumter — ROI, Cost & Payback

Public · Sumter, SC · 716 students

The verdict

University of South Carolina-Sumter charges a net price of $7,712/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $15,424. Median earnings ten years after entry are $42,437, 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.)

Share

On institution-wide earnings, University of South Carolina-Sumter does not clear its cost — it ranks #17 of 60 South Carolina colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.

$7,712
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$42,437
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
Payback
Our math, 2026
74%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
University of South Carolina-Sumter: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$7,712/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (2 yrs)$15,424our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$42,437Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline-$5,923/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$9,250Scorecard, 2026
Paybackdoes not clearour math
20-year net return-$133,884our math

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

The arithmetic, on University of South Carolina-Sumter's own numbers. Net price $7,712 × 2 years = $15,424 total. Median earnings $42,437 fall $5,923 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 $15,424 bill in about 1.5 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.

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

A median $9,250 in federal loans among completers, or 22% of the $42,437 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-Sumter students graduate?

39% finish their degree — 61% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $15,424 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $39,549 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is University of South Carolina-Sumter expensive compared with other South Carolina colleges?

Its $7,712 net price runs $8,283 below the $15,995 median across the 60 South Carolina colleges we profile, and $16,565 less across the full degree.

University of South Carolina-Sumter: frequently asked questions

Is University of South Carolina-Sumter worth the cost?
On institution-wide earnings, the degree does not clear its cost: graduates earn a median $42,437, 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-Sumter 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-Sumter cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $7,712/yr — about $15,424 over 2 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-Sumter compare to other South Carolina colleges?
It ranks #17 of 60 South Carolina colleges we track by payback. Its $42,437 median earnings trail the national median of $43,549, and its $7,712 net price is below the national median of $16,902.