Students at The Citadel Military College earn significantly more than similar students at other institutions, reflecting one of the strongest earnings advantages among public colleges nationwide.
The military college's unique leadership training and alumni networks help graduates achieve exceptional long-term financial outcomes across both military and civilian careers.
The Citadel Military College of South Carolina delivers exceptionally strong long-term financial outcomes within a unique military college environment. Located in Charleston, this public military institution ranks in the top 12% nationally for earnings, with graduates earning a median of $72,085 ten years after enrollment. What makes The Citadel particularly noteworthy is how much better its graduates perform financially compared with similar students at other institutions, achieving earnings beyond expectations that place it among the strongest performers nationwide.
The military college structure creates a distinctive educational experience focused on leadership development, discipline, and character formation. With relatively selective access—serving about 19% Pell Grant recipients and 19% first-generation students—The Citadel operates as what mobility researchers call a "Selective Achiever," delivering strong outcomes for the students it enrolls while maintaining more limited access for low-income families.
For students who succeed in this environment, the long-term financial payoff is substantial. The combination of military training, leadership development, and strong alumni networks in both military and civilian careers helps explain why Citadel graduates consistently outperform earnings expectations by such wide margins.
The Citadel's program portfolio reflects its military college mission, with strong outcomes across fields that benefit from leadership training and disciplined preparation. Corrections Administration stands out as the highest aggregate-return program, combining solid enrollment of 64 graduates with early-career earnings around $39,416, often leading to law enforcement and criminal justice leadership roles. American Government and Politics, the largest program with 49 graduates, produces early earnings of about $37,856 and frequently connects to public service, government, and military careers where Citadel's leadership training provides clear advantages.
Engineering programs deliver some of the institution's highest individual earnings outcomes. Electrical and Electronics Engineering graduates, while fewer in number at 27 students, earn approximately $63,692 ten years out, reflecting the strong demand for technically trained officers and civilians with military discipline. The military college environment enhances these technical programs by adding leadership development, project management experience, and professional networks that extend well beyond typical engineering education.
What distinguishes Citadel programs is how the military structure enhances career preparation across all fields. Whether graduates pursue military service, law enforcement, government work, or private sector careers, the combination of academic preparation, leadership training, and alumni networks creates advantages that show up consistently in long-term earnings outcomes. The institution's unique environment helps explain why graduates across diverse majors achieve earnings that significantly exceed national expectations.
Graduates of The Citadel Military College of South Carolina achieve strong long-term financial outcomes that significantly exceed expectations. Ten years after enrollment, they earn a median of $72,085, placing the institution in the top 12% nationally for earnings performance. More impressive is how much better Citadel graduates do compared with similar students at other institutions—they earn about $11,653 more than expected, reflecting one of the strongest earnings advantages among public colleges nationwide.
The military college's career preparation shows in program-level outcomes. Corrections Administration, the institution's highest aggregate-return major, combines solid enrollment with graduates earning around $39,416 early in their careers. American Government and Politics, the largest program with 49 graduates, leads to early earnings of about $37,856, often connecting to public service and government careers. Engineering programs deliver some of the highest individual earnings, with Electrical and Electronics Engineering graduates earning roughly $63,692 ten years out, demonstrating the institution's strength in technical fields that benefit from military discipline and training.
The Citadel's unique military environment, leadership training, and strong alumni networks help explain these exceptional earnings outcomes. Graduates enter both military and civilian careers with leadership experience, discipline, and professional networks that continue to pay dividends throughout their careers, contributing to earnings that consistently outperform national expectations.
Decomposes the earnings-above-expectation score into program mix, labor market alignment, and the remaining institutional residual.
Negative program contribution values reflect how the school's mix compares with the model, not that the school is weak in that field.
Affordability at The Citadel Military College of South Carolina varies significantly by family income level, with the military college structure creating both opportunities and challenges for different economic backgrounds. Low-income students pay about $12,055 per year after aid, which sits around the national average for public institutions. Middle-income families face annual costs of approximately $18,467, while higher-income families pay about $24,725, reflecting the institution's more limited need-based aid compared with typical public universities.
Debt levels require careful consideration, particularly for families using Parent PLUS loans. Typical graduates leave with about $21,096 in federal student loan debt, a manageable amount given the strong earnings outcomes. However, Parent PLUS borrowing averages $32,149, higher than many public institutions, which reflects both the military college's unique costs and the family income profile of students who attend. The institution maintains a 0% federal loan default rate, indicating that graduates successfully manage their debt obligations.
What makes The Citadel's costs more sustainable is the strong earning power graduates achieve. With median earnings of $72,085 ten years out, most borrowers can handle standard repayment comfortably. The military college experience, while requiring higher upfront investment for many families, typically pays off through superior long-term financial outcomes and career opportunities that justify the initial cost structure.
Citadel Military College Of South Carolina Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
