Conway, South Carolina Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Conway, South Carolina: median public in-state tuition $9,171 (+60.9% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $54,702 (-7.9% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 93.2% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $17,888 (+32.5% vs U.S.) 16,651 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Conway serve students across South Carolina with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 16,651 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $9,171. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Conway, South Carolina and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Conway 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conway, South Carolina | $9,171 | $8,037 | $17,888 | 54.2% | 16,651 |
| South Carolina (state median) | $7,558 | $10,890 | $16,500 | 49.0% | 199,420 |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Conway, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conway, South Carolina | $54,702 | 93.2% | 77.4% | 6.7% | — | 62.5% | 0.41 |
| South Carolina (state median) | $49,442 | 93.0% | 69.8% | 6.3% | — | 66.1% | 0.46 |
| United States | $59,401 | 93.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.8% | 0.36 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conway, South Carolina | $9,171 | $8,037 | $17,888 | 54.2% | 16,651 | $54,702 | 93.2% |
| Columbia | $18,145 | $22,197 | $21,472 | 42.1% | 35,341 | $41,986 | 90.1% |
| Columbia | $18,145 | $22,197 | $21,472 | 42.1% | 35,341 | $41,986 | 90.1% |
| Columbia | $18,145 | $22,197 | $21,472 | 42.1% | 35,341 | $41,986 | 90.1% |
| Charleston | $12,978 | $20,661 | $17,500 | 68.9% | 27,302 | $72,814 | 94.2% |
| Charleston | $12,978 | $20,661 | $17,500 | 68.9% | 27,302 | $72,814 | 94.2% |
| Greenville | $18,484 | $15,592 | $15,642 | 52.3% | 15,579 | $49,158 | 89.5% |
| Greenville | $18,484 | $15,592 | $15,642 | 52.3% | 15,579 | $49,158 | 89.5% |
| Greenville | $18,484 | $15,592 | $15,642 | 52.3% | 15,579 | $49,158 | 89.5% |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 | $59,401 | 93.0% |
Top college in Conway, 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, 54.2%, Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University
Top college in Conway, 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, 93.2%, Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University
Most selective college in Conway, 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, 75.3%, Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University
Top college in Conway, 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, $82,887, Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University
Top college in Conway, 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, $77,999, Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University
Top college in Conway, 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, $43,778, Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University
Top college in Conway, 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, $50,082, Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University
Top college in Conway, 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, $54,702, Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University
Top college in Conway, 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, $171,449, Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University
Most affordable college in Conway, 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, $15,287, Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University
Top college in Conway, 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, 77.4%, Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University
In-state tuition: Conway, South Carolina vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Conway, South Carolina median in-state tuition is $9,171, +60.9% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Conway, South Carolina vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Conway, South Carolina is $17,888 (+32.5% vs U.S. median $13,500). Regional median: $15,558.
Median earnings (10 years out): Conway, South Carolina vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Conway, South Carolina center around $54,702 (-7.9% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Conway, 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 93.2% at the median Conway, South Carolina campus (+0.2 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
Conway, South Carolina median public in-state tuition is $9,171, about +60.9% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +77.8%.
Median graduate debt is $17,888 (+32.5% above the U.S. median of $13,500). 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 Conway, South Carolina are $54,702, about -7.9% vs the U.S. campus median ($59,401).
The median campus reports 93.2% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 93.0% (+0.2 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 77.4% 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 6.7% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 62.5% (U.S. 73.8%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Coastal Carolina University (93.2%)—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 Conway, South Carolina is 54.2% (national institution average about 49.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Conway?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Conway, South Carolina with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Conway?
Median in-state tuition in Conway is $9,171 and median net price is $8,037. For South Carolina overall, medians are $7,558 and $10,890; U.S. medians are $5,700 and $9,912.
What do graduates earn in Conway?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Conway is $54,702 vs $49,442 for South Carolina and $59,401 nationally.
What is student debt like for Conway colleges?
Median completer debt in Conway is $17,888 vs $16,500 for South Carolina and $13,500 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Conway?
Top campuses on this page include Coastal Carolina University (graduation) and Coastal Carolina University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Conway?
Among 2 College Scorecard campuses in Conway, South Carolina, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, none report at least 25% Hispanic undergraduate enrollment, and none report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- South Carolina college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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