Compare 6 Public Finance. programs in South Carolina. Average earnings: $65,067.
With top graduates earning $82,260, Public Finance stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $16K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
College Of Charleston's Public Finance program leads with graduates earning $82,260, followed by University Of South Carolina-Columbia at $79,318. The average across all 6 programs is $65,067, but this $45K earnings spread shows how dramatically outcomes vary based on program-specific factors, not overall school reputation.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University Of South Carolina-Columbia graduates borrow $21,500 and face just a 5.2% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.27.
Highest program earnings: $82,260
Strong outcomes ($82,260) with 72% acceptance
5.2% payment burden | Excellent
13.9% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | College Of CharlestonPublic | $82,260 | 83 | $23,250 | Excellent | $35,971 | Manageable |
| #2 | $79,318 | 536 | $21,500 | Excellent | $31,393 | Manageable | |
| #3 | Clemson UniversityPublic | $71,621 | 207 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,463 | Manageable |
| #4 | Wofford CollegePrivate | $66,153 | 52 | $25,732 | Good | $58,390 | High |
| #5 | $53,842 | 64 | $23,750 | Good | $35,414 | High | |
| #6 | $37,208 | 12 | $27,000 | High | $17,787 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
