Columbia, South Carolina Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Columbia, South Carolina: median public in-state tuition $18,145 (+229.2% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $36,686 (-32.5% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 87.1% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $21,500 (+62.0% vs U.S.) 35,341 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 10 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 35,341 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $18,145 (+229.2% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $36,686 (-32.5% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 87.1% (-0.8 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $22,811 (+128.8% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $21,500 (+62.0% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,456
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 30.6%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 57.2%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Columbia serve students across South Carolina with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 10 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 35,341 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $18,145. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Columbia, South Carolina and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Columbia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, South Carolina | $18,145 | $22,811 | $21,500 | 30.6% | 35,341 |
| South Carolina (state median) | $7,558 | $11,376 | $15,392 | 48.0% | 199,420 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Columbia, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, South Carolina | $36,686 | 87.1% | 57.2% | 13.0% | — | 50.4% | 0.65 |
| South Carolina (state median) | $44,978 | 88.9% | 69.8% | 6.3% | — | 66.1% | 0.55 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, South Carolina | $18,145 | $22,811 | $21,500 | 30.6% | 35,341 | $36,686 | 87.1% |
| Charleston | $12,978 | $19,019 | $15,000 | 63.9% | 27,302 | $64,250 | 88.1% |
| Charleston | $12,978 | $19,019 | $15,000 | 63.9% | 27,302 | $64,250 | 88.1% |
| Conway | $8,054 | $9,062 | $19,000 | 48.5% | 16,651 | $47,258 | 78.5% |
| Conway | $8,054 | $9,062 | $19,000 | 48.5% | 16,651 | $47,258 | 78.5% |
| Greenville | $18,484 | $17,979 | $15,988 | 42.8% | 15,579 | $44,354 | 81.1% |
| Greenville | $18,484 | $17,979 | $15,988 | 42.8% | 15,579 | $44,354 | 81.1% |
| 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 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Outcomes by sector in Columbia, South Carolina
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private nonprofit | 4 | $35,426 | 87.3% | 55.3% | 14.2% | — | 39.9% |
Top 5 colleges in Columbia, 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, 78.8%, University of South Carolina-Columbia
University of South Carolina-Columbia
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 46.8%, Columbia International University
Columbia International University
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 36.9%, Columbia College
Columbia College
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Rank 4, Graduation Rate, 24.3%, Benedict College
Benedict College
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Rank 5, Graduation Rate, 13.3%, Allen University
Allen University
Top 5 colleges in Columbia, 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, 89.7%, Allen University
Allen University
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 89.2%, Columbia College
Columbia College
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 89.0%, University of South Carolina-Columbia
University of South Carolina-Columbia
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 85.3%, Benedict College
Benedict College
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 82.5%, Columbia International University
Columbia International University
Top 5 most selective colleges in Columbia, 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, 60.2%, University of South Carolina-Columbia
University of South Carolina-Columbia
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 72.5%, Allen University
Allen University
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Rank 3, Admission Rate, 93.9%, Columbia College
Columbia College
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Rank 4, Admission Rate, 94.5%, Columbia International University
Columbia International University
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Rank 5, Admission Rate, 95.7%, Benedict College
Benedict College
Top 6 colleges in Columbia, 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, $77,635, South University-Columbia
South University-Columbia
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $77,161, University of South Carolina-Columbia
University of South Carolina-Columbia
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $67,338, Columbia College
Columbia College
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Rank 4, Entry-Level Earnings, $33,120, Benedict College
Benedict College
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Rank 5, Entry-Level Earnings, $23,737, Columbia International University
Columbia International University
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Rank 6, Entry-Level Earnings, $23,572, Allen University
Allen University
Top 6 colleges in Columbia, 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, $109,116, University of South Carolina-Columbia
University of South Carolina-Columbia
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $91,363, South University-Columbia
South University-Columbia
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $71,888, Columbia College
Columbia College
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Rank 4, Early-Career Earnings, $45,474, Allen University
Allen University
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Rank 5, Early-Career Earnings, $43,210, Columbia International University
Columbia International University
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Rank 6, Early-Career Earnings, $41,811, Benedict College
Benedict College
Top 5 colleges in Columbia, 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, $50,621, University of South Carolina-Columbia
University of South Carolina-Columbia
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $45,863, Columbia College
Columbia College
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $33,929, Columbia International University
Columbia International University
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $24,908, Benedict College
Benedict College
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $23,889, Allen University
Allen University
Top 5 colleges in Columbia, 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, $57,722, University of South Carolina-Columbia
University of South Carolina-Columbia
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $40,843, Columbia College
Columbia College
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $38,912, Columbia International University
Columbia International University
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $28,081, Benedict College
Benedict College
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $26,980, Allen University
Allen University
Top 5 colleges in Columbia, 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, $62,177, University of South Carolina-Columbia
University of South Carolina-Columbia
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $41,338, Columbia College
Columbia College
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $38,951, Columbia International University
Columbia International University
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $31,902, Benedict College
Benedict College
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $30,497, Allen University
Allen University
Top 6 colleges in Columbia, 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, $170,586, University of South Carolina-Columbia
University of South Carolina-Columbia
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $120,448, Columbia College
Columbia College
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $80,679, Allen University
Allen University
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $56,964, Columbia International University
Columbia International University
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $50,127, Benedict College
Benedict College
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $30,133, South University-Columbia
South University-Columbia
Top 6 most affordable colleges in Columbia, 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, $10,972, Allen University
Allen University
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Rank 2, Net Price, $18,250, Benedict College
Benedict College
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Rank 3, Net Price, $18,408, Columbia College
Columbia College
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Rank 4, Net Price, $22,811, University of South Carolina-Columbia
University of South Carolina-Columbia
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Rank 5, Net Price, $26,036, Columbia International University
Columbia International University
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Rank 6, Net Price, $27,693, South University-Columbia
South University-Columbia
Top 5 colleges in Columbia, 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, 92.2%, University of South Carolina-Columbia
University of South Carolina-Columbia
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 60.4%, Columbia College
Columbia College
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 57.3%, Benedict College
Benedict College
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Rank 4, First-Year Retention, 53.3%, Columbia International University
Columbia International University
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Rank 5, First-Year Retention, 45.0%, Allen University
Allen University
In-state tuition: Columbia, South Carolina vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Columbia, South Carolina median in-state tuition is $18,145, +229.2% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Columbia, South Carolina vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Columbia, South Carolina is $21,500 (+62.0% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.
Median earnings (10 years out): Columbia, South Carolina vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Columbia, South Carolina center around $36,686 (-32.5% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Columbia, 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 87.1% at the median Columbia, South Carolina campus (-0.8 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
Columbia, South Carolina median public in-state tuition is $18,145, about +229.2% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +263.5%.
Median graduate debt is $21,500 (+62.0% above the U.S. median of $13,271). 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 Columbia, South Carolina are $36,686, about -32.5% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 87.1% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-0.8 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 57.2% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 13.0% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 50.4% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Allen University (89.7%), Columbia College (89.2%), University of South Carolina-Columbia (89.0%), Benedict College (85.3%), Columbia International University (82.5%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Columbia, South Carolina, sector medians diverge: Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $35,426 (4 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Columbia, South Carolina is 30.6% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Columbia?
This city profile covers 10 campuses in Columbia, South Carolina with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Columbia?
Median in-state tuition in Columbia is $18,145 and median net price is $22,811. For South Carolina overall, medians are $7,558 and $11,376; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Columbia?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Columbia is $36,686 vs $44,978 for South Carolina and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Columbia colleges?
Median completer debt in Columbia is $21,500 vs $15,392 for South Carolina and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Columbia?
Top campuses on this page include University of South Carolina-Columbia (graduation) and University of South Carolina-Columbia (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Columbia?
Among 10 campuses in Columbia, South Carolina, 2 historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs, IPEDS HBCU flag), including Allen University and Benedict College; 3 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: African Methodist Episcopal (1), Baptist (1), United Methodist (1).
Sources & related
- South Carolina college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON