College of Charleston vs Charleston Southern University: which has better ROI?
College of Charleston has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $75,840 in 9.4 years versus not at all at Charleston Southern University, on median earnings of $56,416 vs $45,898 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of Charleston | Charleston Southern University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,960 | $21,666 |
| Total net cost | $75,840 | $86,664 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,416 | $45,898 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $26,471 |
| Payback | 9.4 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $85,280 | -$135,904 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, College of Charleston or Charleston Southern University?
College of Charleston, at $18,960 a year after aid versus $21,666 — a gap of $2,706 a year, or $10,824 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do College of Charleston or Charleston Southern University graduates earn more?
College of Charleston graduates report a median $56,416 ten years after entry, $10,518 more than the $45,898 at Charleston Southern University. 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, College of Charleston or Charleston Southern University?
College of Charleston: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $26,471 at Charleston Southern University, a difference of $3,221. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
66% of students finish at College of Charleston, against 47% at Charleston Southern University. 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.