Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of South Carolina Aiken #636 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $53,299, placing University of South Carolina Aiken in the 13.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of South Carolina Aiken #1123 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- University of South Carolina Aiken's composite ranking reflects its balance of affordability and outcomes for students in the Aiken region. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $53,299, placing the institution in the 13.1 percentile for earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes are anchored by the university's focus on business and professional fields, which dominate its degree output.
Azimuth ranks University of South Carolina Aiken #636 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Aiken, SC, University of South Carolina Aiken enrolls roughly 2,962 undergraduates. Retention is 66.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 39.9%, reflecting solid progress toward degree completion. Where University of South Carolina Aiken performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of South Carolina Aiken #1123 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $53,299, and they earn about $5,587 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of South Carolina Aiken in the 34.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio is anchored in Business, a field that typically delivers strong early-career outcomes and aligns with regional employer demand. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. University of South Carolina Aiken sits in the 69.4 percentile for access and the 78.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 39.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 32.7% are first-generation college students. For students focused on strong long-term financial outcomes at an accessible price point, University of South Carolina Aiken offers a straightforward path: solid earnings growth, manageable debt, and a program mix built around fields with reliable labor-market demand.
Ursuline College's published cost of attendance is $21,540. Net price by income band reveals how financial aid reshapes that sticker price: low-income families pay approximately $8,987, middle-income families pay around $11,440, and higher-income families pay approximately $17,502. Azimuth ranks University of South Carolina Aiken #306 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. Ursuline College's aid structure is need-based, with families applying through the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs to close the gap between sticker price and what families pay. For families evaluating affordability, understanding the difference between published cost and actual net price is essential — net price and sticker price can differ substantially, and Ursuline's aid reach helps many families access the institution at a lower effective cost. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,275, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,976; 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 $53,299, median federal debt of $24,275 projects to a monthly payment of about $274 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of South Carolina Aiken is a strong fit for students interested in business and applied fields who want a public university experience in SC with solid long-term outcomes. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $53,299, placing University of South Carolina Aiken in the 13.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $5,587 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 34.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls students from a range of backgrounds, with 39.2% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 32.7% being first-generation students. This combination of access and outcomes makes it particularly compelling for students from lower-income backgrounds seeking upward mobility. Business represents 22% of graduates at University of South Carolina Aiken, anchoring the institution's economic signature. Azimuth ranks the university among nonprofit four-year institutions for its focus on business education and applied fields.
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 University Of South Carolina Aiken hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Angelo State University Similar quality tier (#19154 ranked) | TX | 83% | $50,116 | #19154 | Compare |
University Of Wisconsin-River Falls Similar quality tier (#19153 ranked) | WI | 82% | $54,458 | #19153 | Compare |
Southeast Missouri State University Similar quality tier (#19147 ranked) | MO | 74% | $44,030 | #19147 | Compare |
University Of Arkansas-Fort Smith Similar quality tier (#19145 ranked) | AR | 80% | $41,102 | #19145 | Compare |
The University Of Tennessee-Martin Similar quality tier in Southeast (#19141 ranked) | TN | 88% | $44,213 | #19141 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Ursuline College's published cost of attendance is $21,540. Net price by income band reveals how financial aid reshapes that sticker price: low-income families pay approximately $8,987, middle-income families pay around $11,440, and higher-income families pay approximately $17,502.
Azimuth ranks University of South Carolina Aiken #306 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.
Ursuline College's aid structure is need-based, with families applying through the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs to close the gap between sticker price and what families pay.
For families evaluating affordability, understanding the difference between published cost and actual net price is essential — [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), and Ursuline's aid reach helps many families access the institution at a lower effective cost. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,275, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,976; 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 $53,299, median federal debt of $24,275 projects to a monthly payment of about $274 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 the University of South Carolina Aiken earn about $5,587 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing it in the 34.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks the University of South Carolina Aiken #1123 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Business Administration is the largest program with 123 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $58,908, representing 0.9× the national benchmark for the field. Nursing and Kinesiology follow as substantial programs, with Teacher Education and Psychology, General rounding out the core academic portfolio.
This health-focused program mix aligns with strong employer demand in the region.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
121 graduates
Industrial Engineering
19 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
123 graduates
Communication and Media Studies
19 graduates
Applied Mathematics
5 graduates
University of South Carolina Aiken's program mix is anchored in Business, which accounts for 22% of graduates. The largest programs by enrollment are Business Administration with 123 graduates, followed by Nursing with 121 graduates, Kinesiology with 55 graduates, and Teacher Education with 52 graduates.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 537 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor-market demand. The highest-earning programs reflect the institution's applied-professional orientation.
Nursing leads with median earnings of $78,231 four years after enrollment, followed by Business Administration at $58,908, Communication and Media Studies at $58,203, and Sociology at $49,530. These programs cluster in fields where employers in the Aiken region and broader Southeast actively recruit, including business administration, accounting, and applied technical disciplines.
Business Administration, the institution's largest program, generates median earnings of $58,908 and represents a direct pathway into regional employment. The concentration in Business and related applied fields positions University of South Carolina Aiken as a workforce-aligned institution where program choice maps closely to local and regional labor-market outcomes.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with regional wage trends and hiring demand.
