Limestone University
Gaffney, SC 29340-3799
About Limestone University
Limestone University is a private research university in Gaffney, South Carolina, enrolling about 1,482 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 97.26% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $44,999 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Limestone University charges 5% below the national private non-profit median tuition ($27,800).
- Versus the South Carolina median, sticker tuition is about 2.1×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 35.33%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $44,999.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Limestone University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 474% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limestone University | $27,800 | $19,588 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| South Carolina (state median) | $12,978 | $11,376 | 63 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 30% below published tuition at Limestone University
Key findings
- Limestone University's average net price ($19,588) is 30% below published tuition ($27,800).
- Limestone University charges 5% below the national private non-profit median tuition ($27,800).
- Versus the South Carolina median, sticker tuition is about 2.1×.
Limestone University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $27,800
Finding Limestone University charges 5% below the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $27,800. That is 5% below the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the South Carolina median ($12,978), sticker tuition is about 2.1×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 2.3×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Limestone University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Limestone University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Limestone University is $19,588.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $19,588 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $8,212 above the South Carolina median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $4,617 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Limestone University’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 30% lower after grants and scholarships.
Limestone University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Limestone University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$27,800
Avg. net price
$19,588
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $16,772 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $15,920 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $18,607 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $23,314 |
| $110,001+ | $23,320 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $111,200. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Limestone University is known for
Top program completions
- Social Work113
- Business/Commerce, General105
- Business Administration and Management, General47
- Health/Health Care Administration/Management43
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies39
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 11% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Limestone University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Limestone University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Limestone University.
Campus
Location
Gaffney, SC
City / state
- ZIP
- 29340-3799
- NCES locale
- Town distant
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 31% above the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
Size
Enrollment
1,482
Total enrollment
- Full-time share
- 85%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$27,639
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 43.43%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional where not shown.
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Limestone University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Limestone University was not reported in the College Scorecard extract for this institution.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Limestone University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $22,080 | $22,080 | $21,619 |
| 2014 | $23,000 | $23,000 | $21,788 |
| 2015 | $23,900 | $23,900 | $22,378 |
| 2016 | $23,900 | $23,900 | $23,519 |
| 2017 | $25,025 | $25,025 | $24,073 |
| 2018 | $25,025 | $25,025 | $24,083 |
| 2019 | $26,300 | $26,300 | $22,707 |
| 2020 | $26,300 | $26,300 | $25,160 |
| 2021 | $26,300 | $26,300 | $22,047 |
| 2022 | $26,300 | $26,300 | $23,290 |
| 2023 | $27,500 | $27,500 | $20,415 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Limestone University reported total enrollment of about 1,482 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 50% male and 50% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (40.0%), Black or African American (29.4%), and Hispanic or Latino (11.9%). About 43.43% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 43.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
85.5% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Limestone University in 2024 is 1,482 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
64.1%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
22.60% 100% Completion Time
35.33% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 22.60% of students graduating from Limestone University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Social Work: 19% male / 81% female
- Business/Commerce, General: 64% male / 36% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 68% male / 32% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Limestone University graduates earn a median of $44,999 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Limestone University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $44,999. Median federal loan debt: $27,639. Average net price used in cost models: $19,588.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Limestone University graduates report median earnings of $44,999 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Limestone University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (30 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Limestone University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Limestone University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Limestone University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$12.7M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- South Carolina median near the median ($12.8M)
- Southeast median 0.65× the median ($19.4M)
- U.S. median 0.48× the median ($26.4M)
- South Carolina median 1.1× the median ($7,041)
- Southeast median 0.84× the median ($9,308)
- U.S. median 0.64× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- South Carolina median 39.3 pp above median (60.7%)
- Southeast median 40.6 pp above median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 42.0 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $6,296
- South Carolina median 0.92× the median ($6,831)
- Southeast median 0.92× the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median 0.83× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $6,932
- South Carolina median 0.85× the median ($8,125)
- Southeast median near the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median near the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Limestone University at a glance
Limestone University
Limestone University is a private non-profit institution in Gaffney, SC, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Social WorkBusiness/Commerce, GeneralBusiness Administration and Management, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian40.0%Black or African American29.4%Hispanic or Latino11.9%
Schools near Limestone University
Other campuses in Gaffney, SC when available, plus nearby institutions in South Carolina.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within South Carolina, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Limestone University located?
Limestone University is located in Gaffney, SC.
What is Limestone University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Limestone University is 97.3% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 3,075 applicants and 3,022 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Limestone University's tuition?
Limestone University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $27,800 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $19,588 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Limestone University cost?
Reported tuition is $27,800 and average net price is $19,588 in the latest College Scorecard data.
Why is Limestone University's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Limestone University, published tuition is $27,800 while average net price is $19,588—about 30% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Limestone University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($19,588), completion (35.3% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($44,999). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Limestone University?
Limestone University reports total enrollment of about 1,482 students, White (40.0%), Black or African American (29.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Limestone University?
About 43.0% of students at Limestone University are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Limestone University earn?
Median earnings are $38,713 six years after entry and $44,999 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Limestone University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 35.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Limestone University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $27,639.
Is Limestone University public or private?
Limestone University is a private nonprofit institution located in Gaffney, SC.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.