Rock Hill, South Carolina Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Rock Hill, South Carolina shows: median public in-state tuition $11,136 (+102.0% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $47,185 (-13.1% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 88.5% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $16,988 (+26.5% vs U.S.) 7,646 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 4 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 7,646 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $11,136 (+102.0% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $47,185 (-13.1% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 88.5% (+0.6 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $12,744 (+27.9% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $16,988 (+26.5% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $14,173
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 35.5%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 73.6%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Rock Hill, South Carolina—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against South Carolina and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Rock Hill vs South Carolina & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Hill, South Carolina | $11,136 | $12,744 | $16,988 | 35.5% | 7,646 |
| South Carolina (state median) | $7,558 | $11,376 | $15,917 | 47.3% | 200,978 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Rock Hill, South Carolina vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Hill, South Carolina | $47,185 | 88.5% | 73.6% | 8.0% | — | 56.8% | 0.57 |
| South Carolina (state median) | $44,999 | 88.8% | 69.7% | 6.5% | — | 66.0% | 0.55 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in South Carolina (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Hill, South Carolina | $11,136 | $12,744 | $16,988 | 35.5% | 7,646 | $47,185 | 88.5% |
| Columbia | $18,145 | $20,404 | $20,000 | 30.6% | 35,532 | $36,686 | 87.1% |
| Columbia | $18,145 | $20,404 | $20,000 | 30.6% | 35,532 | $36,686 | 87.1% |
| Charleston | $12,978 | $19,019 | $15,458 | 63.9% | 27,311 | $64,250 | 88.1% |
| Charleston | $12,978 | $19,019 | $15,458 | 63.9% | 27,311 | $64,250 | 88.1% |
| Conway | $8,054 | $13,966 | $15,917 | 48.5% | 16,654 | $47,258 | 78.5% |
| Conway | $8,054 | $13,966 | $15,917 | 48.5% | 16,654 | $47,258 | 78.5% |
| Greenville | $18,484 | $17,979 | $15,988 | 42.8% | 15,579 | $44,354 | 81.1% |
| Spartanburg | $20,650 | $14,250 | $17,155 | 52.3% | 13,262 | $48,587 | 90.0% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Rock Hill, South Carolina by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 57.0%, Winthrop University
Winthrop University
Top 10 colleges in Rock Hill, South Carolina by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 88.5%, Winthrop University
Winthrop University
Top 10 most selective colleges in Rock Hill, South Carolina (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 79.2%, Winthrop University
Winthrop University
Top 10 colleges in Rock Hill, South Carolina by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $64,302, Winthrop University
Winthrop University
Top 10 colleges in Rock Hill, South Carolina by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $61,987, Winthrop University
Winthrop University
Top 10 colleges in Rock Hill, South Carolina by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $39,048, Winthrop University
Winthrop University
Top 10 colleges in Rock Hill, South Carolina by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $42,584, Winthrop University
Winthrop University
Top 10 colleges in Rock Hill, South Carolina by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $47,185, Winthrop University
Winthrop University
Top 10 colleges in Rock Hill, South Carolina by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $132,752, Winthrop University
Winthrop University
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Rock Hill, South Carolina (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $15,343, Winthrop University
Winthrop University
Top 10 colleges in Rock Hill, South Carolina by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 73.6%, Winthrop University
Winthrop University
In-state tuition: Rock Hill, South Carolina vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Rock Hill, South Carolina median in-state tuition is $11,136, +102.0% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Rock Hill, South Carolina vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Rock Hill, South Carolina is $16,988 (+26.5% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $14,173.
Median earnings (10 years out): Rock Hill, South Carolina vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Rock Hill, South Carolina center around $47,185 (-13.1% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Rock Hill, South Carolina vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 88.5% at the median Rock Hill, South Carolina campus (+0.6 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Rock Hill, South Carolina median public in-state tuition is $11,136, about +102.0% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +123.1%.
Median graduate debt is $16,988 (+26.5% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Rock Hill, South Carolina are $47,185, about -13.1% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 88.5% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (+0.6 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 73.6% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 8.0% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 56.8% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Winthrop University (88.5%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Rock Hill, South Carolina is 35.5% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Rock Hill?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 4 campuses in Rock Hill, South Carolina with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Rock Hill?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Rock Hill is $11,136 and median net price is $12,744. For South Carolina overall, medians are $7,558 and $11,376; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Rock Hill?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Rock Hill is $47,185 vs $44,999 for South Carolina and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Rock Hill colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Rock Hill is $16,988 vs $15,917 for South Carolina and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Rock Hill?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Winthrop University (graduation) and Winthrop University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Rock Hill?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 4 campuses in Rock Hill, South Carolina, 1 historically Black college or university (HBCU, IPEDS HBCU flag), including Clinton College; 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (1).
Sources & related
- South Carolina college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON