Best College ROI in Sc 2026
38 colleges in Sc analyzed for return on investment. Strayer University-South Carolina leads with a ROI Score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY).
Sc has 38 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 13 public institutions and 25 private ones. Across the 38 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $24K and earn $86K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
100% of Sc colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Strayer University-South Carolina (median $95K on Computer and Information Sciences).
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Sc
Strayer University-South Carolina
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Sc's ROI rankings on its Computer and Information Sciences program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $5K in median debt.
Voorhees University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer and Information Sciences. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Bob Jones University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer and Information Sciences. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $21K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Sc
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Strayer University-South Carolina(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $5K | $95K | A (100) |
| 2 | Voorhees University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $17K | $95K | A (97) |
| 3 | Bob Jones University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 4 | Morris College(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 5 | Wofford College(private) | Mathematics | $21K | $78K | A (96) |
| 6 | Citadel Military College of South Carolina(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 7 | Clemson University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 8 | Coastal Carolina University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 9 | College of Charleston(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 10 | Francis Marion University(public) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 11 | Furman University(private) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 12 | Lander University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 13 | North Greenville University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $24K | $95K | A (95) |
| 14 | South Carolina State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 15 | University of South Carolina Aiken(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 16 | University of South Carolina Beaufort(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 17 | University of South Carolina-Columbia(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 18 | Charleston Southern University(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 19 | Presbyterian College(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 20 | Allen University(private) | Mathematics | $24K | $78K | A (94) |
College debt and earnings data for Sc is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Strayer University-South Carolina has the best ROI in Sc with a score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer and Information Sciences, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $5K in median debt.
Across 38 Sc colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $24K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $86K.
Strayer University-South Carolina graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer and Information Sciences). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Sc has 38 colleges in our database (13 public, 25 private). Of the 38 with reportable ROI, 100% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).