South Carolina State University

South Carolina State University's published cost of attendance is $30,015. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation across family circumstances: low-income families pay approximately $16,846, middle-income families pay around $20,449, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,523.

Azimuth ranks South Carolina State University #974 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.

As a public historically Black university, South Carolina State University participates in federal need-based aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state and institutional aid. The gap between published cost of attendance and net price reflects the institution's commitment to need-based aid, though the spread across income bands is narrower than at institutions with larger endowments.

Families apply for aid using the FAFSA, and work-study is available as part of aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $31,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $29,808; 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 $46,691, median federal debt of $31,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $350 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 South Carolina State University earn median 4-year earnings of $46,691, placing South Carolina State University in the 8.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,008 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing South Carolina State University in the 53.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks South Carolina State University #1300 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 12.2 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These figures represent lifetime returns relative to SC's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $31,959 (the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential).

The earnings pattern centers on business and professional fields. Biology, General is the largest program with 41 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $37,940, performing at 0.7× the national benchmark for the field.

The Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General program graduates 31 students earning $40,050 four years after enrollment, while Criminal Justice and Business Administration round out the top programs with 24 and 21 graduates respectively. The concentration in Business — the institution's dominant program family — reflects South Carolina State's focus on fields with direct workforce pathways and stable employer demand in the region.

South Carolina State University's program mix is anchored in business, education, and applied professional fields—a portfolio aligned with the institution's public regional university mission. Biology, General is the largest program with 41 graduates, followed by Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General, Criminal Justice, Business Administration, and Psychology, General.

Across 19 total programs serving roughly 290 students annually, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with Business representing the dominant concentration. The earnings pattern reflects strength in applied fields where graduates enter the workforce directly.

Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians leads with median earnings of $63,129 four years after enrollment among 14 graduates, followed by Business Administration with $48,108 for 21 graduates and Criminal Justice with $45,061 for 24 graduates. These outcomes reflect direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings capture meaningful labor-market entry and early-career progression.

The program distribution across Business (representing 15%), Education (representing 7%), and Engineering (representing 4%) signals a regionally oriented institution focused on fields with stable regional labor-market demand. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how South Carolina State University's dominant program families align with employment growth in South Carolina and the broader Southeast.