South Carolina State University vs Aiken Technical College: 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 $38,262 at South Carolina State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | South Carolina State University | Aiken Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,097 | $4,807 |
| Total net cost | $72,388 | $9,614 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,262 | $39,225 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $12,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$274,348 | -$192,314 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, South Carolina State University or Aiken Technical College?
Aiken Technical College, at $4,807 a year after aid versus $18,097 — a gap of $13,290 a year, or $62,774 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do South Carolina State University or Aiken Technical College graduates earn more?
Aiken Technical College graduates report a median $39,225 ten years after entry, $963 more than the $38,262 at South Carolina State 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, South Carolina State University or Aiken Technical College?
Aiken Technical College: its completers carry a median $12,250 in federal loans versus $31,000 at South Carolina State University, a difference of $18,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
37% of students finish at South Carolina State University, 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.