Aiken Technical College vs University of South Carolina-Sumter: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of South Carolina-Sumter comes closer — median earnings $42,437 against a $15,424 total, vs $39,225 at Aiken Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aiken Technical College | University of South Carolina-Sumter |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,807 | $7,712 |
| Total net cost | $9,614 | $15,424 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,225 | $42,437 |
| Median debt | $12,250 | $9,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$192,314 | -$133,884 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Aiken Technical College or University of South Carolina-Sumter?
Aiken Technical College, at $4,807 a year after aid versus $7,712 — a gap of $2,905 a year, or $5,810 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 University of South Carolina-Sumter graduates earn more?
University of South Carolina-Sumter graduates report a median $42,437 ten years after entry, $3,212 more than the $39,225 at Aiken Technical College. 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 University of South Carolina-Sumter?
University of South Carolina-Sumter: its completers carry a median $9,250 in federal loans versus $12,250 at Aiken Technical College, a difference of $3,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
39% of students finish at University of South Carolina-Sumter, against 34% at Aiken Technical College. 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.