Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of South Carolina Beaufort #850 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $49,235, placing University of South Carolina Beaufort in the 9.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of South Carolina Beaufort #1294 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of South Carolina Beaufort #850 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public master's university in Bluffton, South Carolina, University of South Carolina Beaufort enrolls roughly 2,052 undergraduates. Retention is 61.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 34.0%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a regional public institution. University of South Carolina Beaufort delivers meaningful value through a combination of affordability and accessible pathways to degree completion. 40.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 31.0% are first-generation college students, positioning the institution as a broad-access option for students from lower-income and non-college-educated backgrounds. Azimuth ranks University of South Carolina Beaufort #1294 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $49,235, and they earn about $10,744 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of South Carolina Beaufort in the 19.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio is anchored in health fields, which align with stable, in-demand career pathways in the Lowcountry region and beyond. For students seeking a smaller, affordable public university with strong outcomes relative to cost and a focus on health professions and related fields, University of South Carolina Beaufort offers a direct route to degree completion and workforce entry without the price tag of larger research institutions.
University of South Carolina Beaufort's published cost of attendance is $24,353. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation across family circumstances: low-income families pay approximately $11,397, middle-income families pay around $13,846, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,250. Azimuth ranks University of South Carolina Beaufort #411 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 regional university, University of South Carolina Beaufort structures aid through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional programs. The institution's net-price positioning reflects both its public tuition base and the breadth of need-based aid available to qualifying students. Families applying for aid use the FAFSA; work-study is available as part of aid packages for eligible students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,755; 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 $49,235, median federal debt of $24,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $271 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 Beaufort is a strong fit for students interested in health fields who want a public university experience in SC's coastal region. The institution's program mix leans heavily toward Health, with 22% of graduates completing degrees in this area. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $49,235, placing University of South Carolina Beaufort in the 9.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $10,744 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 19.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls students from a range of backgrounds, with 40.1% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 31.0% identifying as first-generation college students. This access profile combines with a 39.9% completion rate for Pell recipients. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 72.5% admit rate reflects moderately selective access, and the program portfolio focuses on applied health fields rather than broad academic disciplines. Students whose interests align with these areas will find a clear pathway to regional employment.
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 Beaufort 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
59 graduates
Computational Science
9 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
46 graduates
Psychology, General
35 graduates
Communication and Media Studies
22 graduates
University of South Carolina Beaufort's program mix centers on Health — a portfolio aligned with the institution's regional mission and workforce demand in the Lowcountry. Nursing is the largest program with 59 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $70,311, followed by Biology, General with 46 graduates earning $45,680, Business Administration with 46 graduates earning $56,852, Psychology, General with 35 graduates, and Hospitality Administration/Management with 34 graduates.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 353 students annually, several deliver solid earnings outcomes. The highest-earning programs reflect the institution's Health-focused identity.
Nursing graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $70,311 with 59 graduates, while Business Administration delivers $56,852 with 46 graduates. Psychology, General earns $50,776 and Communication and Media Studies earns $49,545, both supporting the institution's strength in applied health and professional fields.
These programs represent direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes in healthcare and related sectors. University of South Carolina Beaufort's program concentration in Business at 22%, combined with Social Sciences at 7% and Education at 4%, positions the university as a regional workforce pipeline for healthcare and human services.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) framework shows strong regional demand for these fields, particularly in South Carolina's healthcare sector. As a regional comprehensive institution, University of South Carolina Beaufort serves students seeking practical, employment-focused degrees with direct pathways into stable, in-demand careers.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Keene State College Similar quality tier (#27595 ranked) | NH | 90% | $54,368 | #27595 | Compare |
Plymouth State University Similar quality tier (#28135 ranked) | NH | 88% | $57,304 | #28135 | Compare |
Concord University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#28138 ranked) | WV | 93% | $42,703 | #28138 | Compare |
Christopher Newport University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#28143 ranked) | VA | 86% | $60,509 | #28143 | Compare |
Kentucky State University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#28148 ranked) | KY | 96% | $36,382 | #28148 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of South Carolina Beaufort's published cost of attendance is $24,353. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation across family circumstances: low-income families pay approximately $11,397, middle-income families pay around $13,846, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,250.
Azimuth ranks University of South Carolina Beaufort #411 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 regional university, University of South Carolina Beaufort structures aid through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional programs. The institution's net-price positioning reflects both its public tuition base and the breadth of need-based aid available to qualifying students.
Families applying for aid use the FAFSA; work-study is available as part of aid packages for eligible students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,755; 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 $49,235, median federal debt of $24,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $271 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 University of South Carolina Beaufort earn median 4-year earnings of $49,235, placing the institution in the 9.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,744 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of South Carolina Beaufort in the 19.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of South Carolina Beaufort #1294 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects University of South Carolina Beaufort's concentration in health-related fields.
Nursing is the largest program with 59 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $70,311, performing at 0.8× the national benchmark for the field. The Biology, General program graduates 46 students earning $45,680, and the The Business Administration program graduates 46 students earning $56,852.
Together, these programs anchor the institution's return profile and align with strong regional demand for health-care and allied-health professionals in the Lowcountry labor market.
