Aiken Technical College vs South University-Columbia: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aiken Technical College comes closer — median earnings $39,225 against a $9,614 total, vs $34,421 at South University-Columbia. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aiken Technical College | South University-Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,807 | $27,693 |
| Total net cost | $9,614 | $110,772 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,225 | $34,421 |
| Median debt | $12,250 | $26,123 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$192,314 | -$389,552 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Aiken Technical College or South University-Columbia?
Aiken Technical College, at $4,807 a year after aid versus $27,693 — a gap of $22,886 a year, or $101,158 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Aiken Technical College or South University-Columbia graduates earn more?
Aiken Technical College graduates report a median $39,225 ten years after entry, $4,804 more than the $34,421 at South University-Columbia. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Aiken Technical College or South University-Columbia?
Aiken Technical College: its completers carry a median $12,250 in federal loans versus $26,123 at South University-Columbia, a difference of $13,873. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
34% of students finish at Aiken Technical College, against 23% at South University-Columbia. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.