Students at Presbyterian College achieve above-average long-term earnings and strong economic mobility outcomes that place the institution well above typical performance levels.
The college's personalized approach and comprehensive support systems help students from diverse backgrounds successfully complete their degrees and transition into rewarding careers.
Presbyterian College is a small private liberal arts institution in South Carolina that delivers above-average outcomes for students seeking personalized education with strong career preparation. With median 10-year earnings of $60,194, graduates achieve solid financial returns that place the college in the 61st percentile nationally for long-term earnings performance. The institution maintains a focused approach to undergraduate education, emphasizing close faculty-student relationships and comprehensive support systems that help students succeed academically and professionally.
The college demonstrates particular strength in supporting student completion, with a 62% six-year graduation rate that reflects its commitment to helping students finish their degrees. Presbyterian College serves a diverse student body, with 28% of students receiving Pell Grants and nearly 20% being first-generation college students, showing meaningful access for students from various economic backgrounds. The institution's small size allows for individualized attention and mentoring that contributes to positive post-graduation outcomes.
As a private liberal arts college, Presbyterian College offers the intimate campus experience and academic flexibility that many students seek, combined with career preparation that translates into competitive earnings. The college's focus on business, biology, and psychology programs provides students with pathways to professional success, while its South Carolina location offers access to growing regional job markets at a reasonable cost of living.
Presbyterian College's program portfolio reflects a focused liberal arts approach with particular strength in professional preparation fields. Business Administration leads in both enrollment and aggregate return, with 41 graduates earning competitive early-career salaries that demonstrate the program's effectiveness in preparing students for immediate workforce entry. The program's combination of solid enrollment and strong earnings outcomes makes it a cornerstone of the college's career preparation mission.
Biology attracts the largest student cohort with 38 graduates, though earnings reflect the pre-professional nature of many biology majors who continue to medical school, graduate programs, or research positions. Psychology, with 27 graduates, serves students interested in human services, counseling, or graduate study, with earnings that often improve significantly as graduates advance in their chosen fields or complete additional education.
The college's small scale allows for intensive mentoring and personalized career guidance across all programs. Faculty work closely with students to identify internship opportunities, research experiences, and career pathways that align with individual interests and goals. This personalized approach helps explain why Presbyterian College graduates achieve solid earnings outcomes despite the institution's modest size, as students receive the individual attention and professional development support that larger institutions often cannot provide.
Presbyterian College graduates achieve solid long-term financial outcomes, with median earnings of $60,194 ten years after enrollment, placing the institution above average nationally for graduate earnings. While the college's earnings performance sits slightly below expectations when compared with similar institutions, the absolute earning levels demonstrate that graduates successfully transition into stable, well-paying careers across various fields. The college's focus on career preparation and professional development helps students build the skills and networks necessary for long-term success.
The strongest financial returns come from business administration, which combines high enrollment with competitive earnings outcomes. Business Administration graduates, representing 41 students in recent cohorts, earn a median of $42,363 early in their careers and generate the highest aggregate return among the college's programs. Biology attracts the largest number of students with 38 graduates, though earnings in this field reflect the pre-professional nature of many biology majors who continue to graduate school. Psychology graduates, with 27 students earning a median of $22,824, often pursue additional education or enter helping professions that may show stronger earnings growth over time.
The college's small size and personalized approach create advantages for career development and professional networking. Faculty mentorship, internship opportunities, and alumni connections help students identify career paths and secure positions that align with their interests and abilities, contributing to the solid earnings outcomes that Presbyterian College graduates achieve across different fields of study.
Presbyterian College maintains moderate affordability levels across different income groups, with net prices that reflect its private liberal arts positioning. Low-income students pay approximately $17,786 annually, while middle-income families face costs around $20,293 per year, and higher-income families see net prices of $26,955. These price points place the college around the national average for affordability, making it accessible to families across the income spectrum, though not among the most affordable options available.
The college's financial aid approach helps make attendance feasible for many students, with meaningful grant assistance that reduces sticker prices significantly. The relatively modest difference between net prices for low- and middle-income students suggests that Presbyterian College provides substantial aid to families who need it most, while maintaining predictable costs that allow families to plan effectively for the full degree program.
Debt levels at Presbyterian College are manageable relative to the earnings outcomes graduates achieve. Students typically leave with moderate federal loan debt, and the college's strong loan repayment performance indicates that graduates can successfully manage their educational investments. The combination of reasonable net prices, solid earnings outcomes, and effective debt management creates a sustainable financial model for most students and families who choose Presbyterian College.
Presbyterian College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
