Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Coastal Carolina University #706 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $13,101 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Coastal Carolina University in the 13.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Coastal Carolina University #1255 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Coastal Carolina University #706 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public master's university in Conway, South Carolina, Coastal Carolina University enrolls roughly 10,377 undergraduates. Retention stands at 77.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 48.5%, reflecting solid persistence and completion outcomes for a regional public institution. Where Coastal Carolina University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Coastal Carolina University #1255 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $52,398, and Coastal Carolina University sits in the 13.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's strength in Business and related fields that lead directly into stable, well-paying careers in the Southeast. Access and affordability round out the composite. Coastal Carolina University enrolls 26.2% Pell-eligible students and 26.6% first-generation undergraduates, positioning it as a broad-access regional institution. The university sits in the 73.2 percentile for access and the 64.9 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mobility outcomes, reflected in the 71.9 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, show that graduates move into sustainable career pathways at rates consistent with peer institutions. For many families in the Southeast seeking a public university with clear pathways to solid mid-career earnings, Coastal Carolina University offers reliable value.
Coastal Carolina University's published cost of attendance is $26,692. Net price varies meaningfully by family income: low-income families pay approximately $9,563, middle-income families pay around $12,938, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,219. Azimuth ranks Coastal Carolina University #501 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability ranking reflects both the net-price structure and the debt load graduates carry, as net price and sticker price can differ substantially, shaping long-term financial outcomes. Coastal Carolina participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $35,414; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. Families should weigh any Parent PLUS obligations against need-based aid and non-loan financing alternatives before borrowing — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $52,398, median federal debt of $23,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $268 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, projected four-year earnings of $41,942 would shift the real affordability picture — a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than relying on the institutional average. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, including Parent PLUS planning and income-driven repayment options, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Coastal Carolina University is a strong fit for students interested in business and related fields who want a public university experience in SC with solid long-term outcomes. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $52,398, placing Coastal Carolina University in the 12.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $13,101 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 13.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university serves a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 26.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 26.6% are first-generation. Published cost of attendance is $20,219, with need-based aid available to help close the gap for qualifying students. Fit depends on program alignment — Business represents 25% of degrees, making the university particularly strong for students interested in those fields. The 75.3% admit rate provides accessible entry for qualified applicants.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Coastal Carolina University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Information Science/Studies
11 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
55 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
14 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
42 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
41 graduates
Coastal Carolina University's program mix is anchored in business, hospitality, and applied professional fields—a portfolio aligned with the institution's regional market and workforce demand. Kinesiology is the largest program with 198 graduates annually, followed by Business Administration, Digital Marketing, Communication and Media Studies, and Psychology, General.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 1,879 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor-market demand. The earnings pattern reflects strength in applied business and hospitality-adjacent fields.
Digital Marketing leads with median earnings of $62,373 four years after enrollment, while Business Administration graduates earn $59,946 and Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations graduates earn $56,863. Communication and Media Studies and Kinesiology round out the highest-earning cohorts, with graduates earning $51,010 and $50,228 respectively.
This concentration in business and hospitality-management pathways reflects the institution's positioning as a regional comprehensive university in a coastal market with strong tourism and service-sector employment. The program mix emphasizes direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes.
Business administration, accounting, hospitality management, and marketing majors represent the core of degree output and connect graduates to stable, accessible career entry points in the Southeast. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these applied-professional fields align with regional wage trends and hiring patterns.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania Similar quality tier (#22500 ranked) | PA | 86% | $55,246 | #22500 | Compare |
Alabama State University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#22544 ranked) | AL | 98% | $34,502 | #22544 | Compare |
University Of Vermont Similar quality tier (#22572 ranked) | VT | 65% | $62,472 | #22572 | Compare |
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Similar quality tier (#21395 ranked) | OH | 81% | $47,896 | #21395 | Compare |
Northwest Missouri State University Similar quality tier (#22588 ranked) | MO | 86% | $47,885 | #22588 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Coastal Carolina University's published cost of attendance is $26,692. Net price varies meaningfully by family income: low-income families pay approximately $9,563, middle-income families pay around $12,938, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,219.
Azimuth ranks Coastal Carolina University #501 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability ranking reflects both the net-price structure and the debt load graduates carry, as [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), shaping long-term financial outcomes.
Coastal Carolina participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $35,414; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures.
Families should weigh any Parent PLUS obligations against need-based aid and non-loan financing alternatives before borrowing — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $52,398, median federal debt of $23,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $268 under standard ten-year repayment.
In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, projected four-year earnings of $41,942 would shift the real affordability picture — a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than relying on the institutional average. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, including Parent PLUS planning and income-driven repayment options, use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Coastal Carolina University earn median 4-year earnings of $52,398, placing Coastal Carolina University in the 12.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $13,101 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Coastal Carolina University in the 13.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Coastal Carolina University #1255 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings trajectory reflects a student body distributed across applied and professional fields, with outcomes that track regional labor-market patterns in the Carolinas.
The institution's program portfolio centers on business and professional disciplines. Kinesiology is the largest program with 198 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $50,228, performing at 0.9× the national CIP-4 benchmark for the field.
The Business Administration program graduates 191 students with median 4-year earnings of $59,946, at 0.9× benchmark. Digital Marketing and Communication and Media Studies round out the top quartile, each delivering earnings in the mid-range for their respective fields.
The concentration in Business — representing a substantial share of degree output — aligns with the institution's regional employer base and contributes to the overall earnings profile. Coastal Carolina's program mix supports steady early-career outcomes and career pathways typical of comprehensive public universities serving the Southeast.
