Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Erskine College #1066 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $20,235 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Erskine College in the 5.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Erskine College #1397 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Erskine College #1066 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Due West, South Carolina, Erskine College enrolls roughly 766 undergraduates. Retention stands at 55.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 45.2%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts institution. Erskine College draws strength from return on investment. Azimuth ranks Erskine College #1397 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $20,235 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Erskine College in the 5.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's business-focused program portfolio — with Business as the dominant field — aligns with strong labor-market demand and contributes to competitive long-term financial outcomes for graduates. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Erskine College enrolls 46.8% Pell-eligible students and 22.3% first-generation undergraduates, reflecting a more selective admissions posture typical of residential private colleges. Azimuth ranks Erskine College in the 58.4 percentile for access and the 56.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For families who qualify for need-based aid, Erskine College commits to meeting demonstrated financial need; prospective students should explore the Financial GPS tool to model affordability scenarios tailored to their household circumstances.
Erskine College's published cost of attendance is $55,248. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $14,555, middle-income families pay around $18,652, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,942. Azimuth ranks Erskine College #627 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Erskine College participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The college's aid structure is designed to meet demonstrated financial need for admitted students. Families apply using the FAFSA and should review Erskine's financial aid page for current aid policies and merit-based scholarship opportunities, which may reduce net price further for qualifying students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,774; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $48,305, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Erskine College is a strong fit for students seeking a small, private liberal arts experience in SC with a focus on Business and related fields. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $48,305, placing Erskine College in the 9.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $20,235 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 5.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The college enrolls students from a range of backgrounds, with 46.8% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 22.3% being first-generation students. The published net price for higher-income families is $18,942, with median federal debt at graduation of $27,000. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 62.7% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business fields. Students whose interests align with these areas will find strong outcomes relative to SC's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $31,959.
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
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This is the Erskine College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Business Administration, Management and Operations
31 graduates
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
6 graduates
Biology, General
12 graduates
Erskine College's program mix centers on Business and applied professional fields, reflecting the institution's liberal arts identity with career-focused preparation. Business Administration is the largest program with 31 graduates, followed by Subject-Specific Teacher Education, Biology, General, Kinesiology, and American History (United States).
Across 5 total programs serving roughly 74 students annually, 0 programs meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several delivering solid four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor markets. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied business and professional fields.
Business Administration leads with median earnings of $54,921 four years after enrollment for 31 graduates. The concentration in Business at 33% of degrees, alongside Education at 26% and other STEM fields at 4%, positions Erskine College as a business and applied-professional-focused institution where graduates enter workforce pathways directly into regional employment markets.
The program portfolio reflects a regional private liberal arts model where most graduates pursue direct-to-workforce pathways in business, accounting, education, and applied sciences rather than graduate-school-dependent fields. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with labor-market demand in the Southeast.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Erskine College's published cost of attendance is $55,248. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $14,555, middle-income families pay around $18,652, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,942.
Azimuth ranks Erskine College #627 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Erskine College participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The college's aid structure is designed to meet demonstrated financial need for admitted students.
Families apply using the FAFSA and should review Erskine's financial aid page for current aid policies and merit-based scholarship opportunities, which may reduce net price further for qualifying students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,774; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $48,305, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Erskine College earn median 4-year earnings of $48,305, placing Erskine College in the 9.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $20,235 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Erskine College in the 5.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Erskine College #1397 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Erskine College's program portfolio centers on Business, which anchors the institution's earnings profile.
Business Administration is the largest program with 31 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $54,921, representing 0.8× the national benchmark for the field. Subject-Specific Teacher Education and Biology, General round out the top programs by enrollment, with Kinesiology and American History (United States) also contributing to the institution's degree output.
These programs collectively reflect Erskine College's focus on applied, professional fields that connect directly to regional labor markets and stable career pathways.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Southern Wesleyan University Higher acceptance rate (39.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 35 miles away; similar graduate earnings | SC | 100% | $47,756 | Compare |
Western Carolina University Higher acceptance rate (26.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 81 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NC | 87% | $49,458 | Compare |
University Of North Georgia Higher acceptance rate (11.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 92 miles away; similar graduate earnings | GA | 72% | $50,135 | Compare |
Bridgewater College Higher acceptance rate (30.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | VA | 91% | $53,453 | Compare |
St. Thomas University Higher acceptance rate (38.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | FL | 99% | $54,272 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bethel University Similar quality tier (#30609 ranked) | IN | 98% | $48,860 | #30609 | Compare |
Hardin-Simmons University Similar quality tier (#30604 ranked) | TX | 90% | $54,771 | #30604 | Compare |
Johnson C Smith University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#30611 ranked) | NC | 45% | $42,680 | #30611 | Compare |
Faulkner University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#30612 ranked) | AL | 73% | $43,457 | #30612 | Compare |
Bethany College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#30613 ranked) | WV | 59% | $44,512 | #30613 | Compare |