University of South Carolina-Lancaster
Lancaster, SC 29720-0889
About University of South Carolina-Lancaster
University of South Carolina-Lancaster is a public community college in Lancaster, South Carolina, enrolling about 668 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $9,801 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $7,558. Student demographics in federal data include White (61.5%) and Black or African American (15.4%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key findings
- University of South Carolina-Lancaster charges 37% above the national public median tuition ($7,558).
- Versus the South Carolina median, sticker tuition is about 0.6×.
- Average net price runs below the South Carolina median net price.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 24.65%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $39,426.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at University of South Carolina-Lancaster is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 906% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Carolina-Lancaster | $7,558 | $9,801 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| 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.
How expensive is University of South Carolina-Lancaster really?
Key findings
- University of South Carolina-Lancaster charges 37% above the national public median tuition ($7,558).
- Versus the South Carolina median, sticker tuition is about 0.6×.
- Average net price runs below the South Carolina median net price.
University of South Carolina-Lancaster tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $7,558
Finding University of South Carolina-Lancaster charges 37% above the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $7,558. That is 37% above the national public median ($5,512). Versus the South Carolina median ($12,978), sticker tuition is about 0.6×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 36% below.
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 public 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 University of South Carolina-Lancaster versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at University of South Carolina-Lancaster versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at University of South Carolina-Lancaster is $9,801.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $9,801 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $1,575 below the South Carolina median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $5,170 below 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 At University of South Carolina-Lancaster, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
University of South Carolina-Lancaster: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for University of South Carolina-Lancaster—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
In-state tuition
$7,558
Out-of-state tuition
$18,238
Avg. net price
$9,801
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $6,306 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $6,462 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $9,072 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $12,310 |
| $110,001+ | $13,884 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $30,232. 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 University of South Carolina-Lancaster is known for
Top program completions
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies128
- Business/Commerce, General42
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration12
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 70% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is University of South Carolina-Lancaster a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
University of South Carolina-Lancaster 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 University of South Carolina-Lancaster.
Campus
Location
Lancaster, SC
City / state
- ZIP
- 29720-0889
- NCES locale
- Town distant
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 35% below the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional
Size
Enrollment
668
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 3,792
- Full-time share
- 87%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$9,616
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 9.97%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for University of South Carolina-Lancaster.
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 University of South Carolina-Lancaster was 0.00%.
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 University of South Carolina-Lancaster 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 | $6,482 | $15,632 | $9,838 |
| 2014 | $6,686 | $16,130 | $9,149 |
| 2015 | $6,878 | $16,598 | $8,145 |
| 2016 | $6,702 | $16,734 | $7,537 |
| 2017 | $6,948 | $17,328 | $8,421 |
| 2018 | $7,558 | $18,238 | $7,942 |
| 2019 | $7,558 | $18,238 | $8,229 |
| 2020 | $7,558 | $18,238 | $8,227 |
| 2021 | $7,558 | $18,238 | $9,635 |
| 2022 | $7,558 | $18,238 | $9,798 |
| 2023 | $7,558 | $18,238 | $9,735 |
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
University of South Carolina-Lancaster reported total enrollment of about 668 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 48% male and 52% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (61.5%), Black or African American (15.4%), and Hispanic or Latino (10.0%). About 9.97% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
86.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at University of South Carolina-Lancaster in 2024 is 668 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 3,792 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
43.3%
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
24.65% 100% Completion Time
24.65% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 24.65% of students graduating from University of South Carolina-Lancaster completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 26% male / 74% female
- Business/Commerce, General: 52% male / 48% female
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration: 17% male / 83% 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.
University of South Carolina-Lancaster graduates earn a median of $39,426 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of University of South Carolina-Lancaster.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $39,426. Median federal loan debt: $9,616. Average net price used in cost models: $9,801.
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 University of South Carolina-Lancaster graduates report median earnings of $39,426 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 University of South Carolina-Lancaster.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 3 programs by IPEDS completions (4 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at University of South Carolina-Lancaster.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for University of South Carolina-Lancaster graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for University of South Carolina-Lancaster—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$10.8M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- South Carolina median 0.85× the median ($12.8M)
- Southeast median 0.56× the median ($19.4M)
- U.S. median 0.41× the median ($26.4M)
- South Carolina median 1.3× the median ($7,041)
- Southeast median near the median ($9,308)
- U.S. median 0.73× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 72.5%
- South Carolina median 11.8 pp above median (60.7%)
- Southeast median 13.1 pp above median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 14.5 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $7,756
- South Carolina median 1.1× the median ($6,831)
- Southeast median 1.1× the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median near the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $7,595
- South Carolina median 0.93× the median ($8,125)
- Southeast median 1.2× 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.
University of South Carolina-Lancaster at a glance
University of South Carolina-Lancaster
University of South Carolina-Lancaster is a public institution in Lancaster, SC, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal StudiesBusiness/Commerce, GeneralCriminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian61.5%Black or African American15.4%Hispanic or Latino10.0%
Schools near University of South Carolina-Lancaster
Other campuses in Lancaster, SC when available, plus nearby institutions in South Carolina.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade F) within South Carolina, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is University of South Carolina-Lancaster located?
University of South Carolina-Lancaster is located in Lancaster, SC.
What is University of South Carolina-Lancaster's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at University of South Carolina-Lancaster is 83.4% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 646 applicants and 490 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is University of South Carolina-Lancaster's tuition?
University of South Carolina-Lancaster tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $7,558 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $9,801 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does University of South Carolina-Lancaster cost?
Reported tuition is $7,558 and average net price is $9,801 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $6,708 annually.
What explains University of South Carolina-Lancaster's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($9,801), completion (24.6% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($39,426). 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 University of South Carolina-Lancaster?
University of South Carolina-Lancaster reports undergraduate enrollment of about 3,792 students, White (61.5%), Black or African American (15.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
What do graduates of University of South Carolina-Lancaster earn?
Median earnings are $35,206 six years after entry and $39,426 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at University of South Carolina-Lancaster?
The 150%-time completion rate is 24.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do University of South Carolina-Lancaster students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $9,616.
Is University of South Carolina-Lancaster public or private?
University of South Carolina-Lancaster is a public institution located in Lancaster, SC.
Is University of South Carolina-Lancaster an HBCU?
No. University of South Carolina-Lancaster is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is University of South Carolina-Lancaster a tribal college?
No. University of South Carolina-Lancaster is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
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.