Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Strayer University-South Carolina vs Allen University: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, Greenville SC · vs · Private nonprofit, Columbia SC

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Strayer University-South Carolina comes closer — median earnings $40,092 against a $71,916 total, vs $30,497 at Allen University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureStrayer University-South CarolinaAllen University
Net price / yr$17,979$10,972
Total net cost$71,916$43,888
Median earnings, 10 yrs$40,092$30,497
Median debt$40,621$34,290
Payback
20-year net return-$237,276-$401,148

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

Which is cheaper, Strayer University-South Carolina or Allen University?

Allen University, at $10,972 a year after aid versus $17,979 — a gap of $7,007 a year, or $28,028 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Strayer University-South Carolina or Allen University graduates earn more?

Strayer University-South Carolina graduates report a median $40,092 ten years after entry, $9,595 more than the $30,497 at Allen 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, Strayer University-South Carolina or Allen University?

Allen University: its completers carry a median $34,290 in federal loans versus $40,621 at Strayer University-South Carolina, a difference of $6,331. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

17% of students finish at Strayer University-South Carolina, against 13% at Allen 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.

Strayer University-South Carolina vs Allen University: frequently asked questions

Is Strayer University-South Carolina or Allen University a better value?
Strayer University-South Carolina 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, Strayer University-South Carolina or Allen University?
Allen University: $10,972/yr net price after aid versus $17,979/yr at Strayer University-South Carolina — a difference of $7,007 a year, or about $28,028 over four years.
Do Strayer University-South Carolina or Allen University graduates earn more?
Strayer University-South Carolina graduates earn a median $40,092 ten years after entry, versus $30,497 at Allen University — a $9,595 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.