Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College vs Benedict College: which has better ROI?

Public, Orangeburg SC · vs · Private nonprofit, Columbia SC

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College comes closer — median earnings $35,761 against a $24,744 total, vs $31,902 at Benedict College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureOrangeburg Calhoun Technical CollegeBenedict College
Net price / yr$6,186$18,250
Total net cost$24,744$73,000
Median earnings, 10 yrs$35,761$31,902
Median debt$10,562$32,500
Payback
20-year net return-$276,724-$402,160

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College or Benedict College?

Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College, at $6,186 a year after aid versus $18,250 — a gap of $12,064 a year, or $48,256 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College or Benedict College graduates earn more?

Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College graduates report a median $35,761 ten years after entry, $3,859 more than the $31,902 at Benedict 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, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College or Benedict College?

Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College: its completers carry a median $10,562 in federal loans versus $32,500 at Benedict College, a difference of $21,938. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

32% of students finish at Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College, against 24% at Benedict 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.

Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College vs Benedict College: frequently asked questions

Is Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College or Benedict College a better value?
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College or Benedict College?
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College: $6,186/yr net price after aid versus $18,250/yr at Benedict College — a difference of $12,064 a year, or about $48,256 over four years.
Do Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College or Benedict College graduates earn more?
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College graduates earn a median $35,761 ten years after entry, versus $31,902 at Benedict College — a $3,859 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.