University of South Carolina-Union — ROI, Cost & Payback
University of South Carolina-Union charges a net price of $8,065/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $16,130. Median earnings ten years after entry are $33,699, 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-Union does not clear its cost — it ranks #44 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) | $8,065/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $16,130 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $33,699 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$14,661/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $11,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$309,350 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on University of South Carolina-Union's own numbers. Net price $8,065 × 2 years = $16,130 total. Median earnings $33,699 fall $14,661 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 $16,130 bill in about 1.6 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do University of South Carolina-Union students graduate with?
A median $11,000 in federal loans among completers, or 33% of the $33,699 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-Union students graduate?
48% finish their degree — 52% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $16,130 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $33,604 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is University of South Carolina-Union expensive compared with other South Carolina colleges?
Its $8,065 net price runs $7,930 below the $15,995 median across the 60 South Carolina colleges we profile, and $15,859 less across the full degree.