College of Charleston vs Presbyterian College: which has better ROI?
Presbyterian College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $82,112 in 6.9 years versus 9.4 years at College of Charleston, on median earnings of $60,194 vs $56,416 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of Charleston | Presbyterian College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,960 | $20,528 |
| Total net cost | $75,840 | $82,112 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,416 | $60,194 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 9.4 yrs | 6.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $85,280 | $154,568 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, College of Charleston or Presbyterian College?
College of Charleston, at $18,960 a year after aid versus $20,528 — a gap of $1,568 a year, or $6,272 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 Presbyterian College graduates earn more?
Presbyterian College graduates report a median $60,194 ten years after entry, $3,778 more than the $56,416 at College of Charleston. 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 Presbyterian College?
College of Charleston: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Presbyterian College, a difference of $2,750. 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 51% at Presbyterian 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.