Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Lander University #839 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,584 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Lander University in the 27.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Lander University #1303 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Lander University #839 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Greenwood, South Carolina, Lander University enrolls roughly 3,397 undergraduates. Retention is 69.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 49.8%, reflecting solid progress toward degree completion for a regional public institution. Where Lander University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Lander University #1303 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $47,003, and Lander University sits in the 27.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This earnings advantage reflects the institution's strength in Business and related fields, where employers actively recruit and starting salaries remain competitive in South Carolina's labor market. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Lander University sits in the 68.4 percentile for access and the 65.7 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 38.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 31.7% are first-generation college students, reflecting a student population with meaningful financial need. For families weighing long-term affordability and debt service, Financial GPS tool provides personalized projections across earnings scenarios and repayment pathways.
Lander University's published cost of attendance is $27,277. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $11,450, middle-income families pay around $13,842, and higher-income families pay approximately $19,102. Azimuth ranks Lander University #489 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. Lander University participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The net-price structure reflects a regional public university's pricing model, where tuition and fees are moderate relative to private institutions but financial aid availability shapes the actual out-of-pocket cost for families across the income spectrum. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $16,919; 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 $47,003, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Lander University is a strong fit for students seeking a regional public university experience in SC with a focus on Business programs and predictable financial outcomes. The institution serves a mix of traditional and first-generation students who benefit from its accessible admission policies and moderate net price structure. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $47,003, placing Lander University in the 8.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $7,584 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 27.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls 38.7% of undergraduates as Pell recipients and 31.7% as first-generation students, reflecting its regional access mission. Published cost of attendance is $19,102, with need-based aid available to close the gap for qualifying students. Fit depends on alignment with the institution's Business focus (25% of degrees) and comfort with a smaller regional university setting. Students seeking strong applied programs in this context will find predictable outcomes relative to SC's no-degree 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
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Lander University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
76 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
152 graduates
Biology, General
26 graduates
Political Science and Government
6 graduates
Sociology
15 graduates
Lander University's program mix is anchored in business and applied professional fields, reflecting the institution's regional comprehensive university identity. Business Administration is the largest program with 152 graduates annually, followed by Nursing, Teacher Education, Psychology, General, and Kinesiology.
Across 20 programs serving roughly 604 students annually, the institution concentrates in Business (representing 25% of graduates), Education (representing 12% of graduates), and Social Sciences (representing 6% of graduates). The highest-earning programs at Lander University are led by Nursing, where graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $75,458, followed by Business Administration with graduates earning $52,512, and Biology, General with median earnings of $51,767.
Teacher Education and Kinesiology round out the top earners, with graduates earning $43,637 and $43,098 respectively. These earnings patterns reflect the institution's strength in applied business and professional fields where graduates enter the workforce directly and outcomes correspond to regional labor-market demand.
The program portfolio emphasizes practical, career-oriented preparation aligned with South Carolina's regional economy. Business Administration and Nursing together account for a substantial share of the institution's degree output and lead to stable employment pathways.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Lander University's dominant program families align with current workforce trends in the Southeast.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern Oregon University Similar quality tier (#25991 ranked) | OR | 98% | $50,112 | #25991 | Compare |
University Of The Virgin Islands Similar quality tier (#25960 ranked) | VI | 99% | $38,681 | #25960 | Compare |
The University Of Montana Similar quality tier (#25916 ranked) | MT | 96% | $44,511 | #25916 | Compare |
Suny At Fredonia Similar quality tier (#25904 ranked) | NY | 78% | $54,247 | #25904 | Compare |
University Of South Carolina Beaufort Similar quality tier in Southeast (#27072 ranked) | SC | 73% | $48,088 | #27072 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Lander University's published cost of attendance is $27,277. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $11,450, middle-income families pay around $13,842, and higher-income families pay approximately $19,102.
Azimuth ranks Lander University #489 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.
Lander University participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The net-price structure reflects a regional public university's pricing model, where tuition and fees are moderate relative to private institutions but financial aid availability shapes the actual out-of-pocket cost for families across the income spectrum.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $16,919; 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 $47,003, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 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 Lander University earn median 4-year earnings of $47,003, placing Lander University in the 8.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,584 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Lander University in the 27.5 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Lander University #1303 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect solid long-term financial returns for graduates entering the regional labor market.
The earnings pattern centers on business and professional fields. Business Administration is the largest program with 152 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $52,512, at 0.8x the national benchmark for the field.
The Nursing program graduates 76 students earning $75,458, and the The Teacher Education program graduates 60 students earning $43,637. Psychology, General and Kinesiology round out the top five, with 59 and 41 graduates respectively.
The concentration in Business — the institution's primary focus — aligns with regional employer demand in South Carolina and supports predictable career pathways for graduates.
