Graduate earnings are in line with similar institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
USC Columbia graduates experience steady earnings growth throughout their post-graduation careers, with income rising consistently across measurement periods. Earnings increase from $50,621 six years after enrollment to $57,722 at eight years and $62,177 at ten years, representing 22.8% growth between the six and ten-year marks.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings align with peer institutions — outcomes are in line with similar schools.
Financial justification for the investment.
Healthy debt burden. Most graduates can manage $21,500 in debt with typical earnings.
USC Columbia graduates carry median debt loads of $21,500, slightly above the peer median of $20,000 but remaining within manageable ranges. Debt levels span from $8,750 at the 25th percentile to $27,000 at the 75th percentile, indicating variation based on family financial circumstances and aid packages.
University of South Carolina-Columbia generates around the national average return on investment, ranking at the 51.8th percentile with solid but not exceptional performance relative to educational costs. Graduates earn a median of $62,177 ten years after enrollment, placing USC Columbia at the 76th percentile nationally and representing strong absolute outcomes.
Approximately 27.4% of USC Columbia graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both immediate workforce...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Program-level earnings reveal USC Columbia's distinctive strengths in business and finance disciplines that drive overall institutional performance. Actuarial Science leads with $80,943 median earnings, while Banking and Financial Support Services produces $79,318, both reflecting strong market demand for quantitative business skills.
Engineering programs including Mechanical Engineering ($78,911) and Artificial Intelligence ($78,153) cluster in the upper ranges, providing consistent high-earning career paths. Health sciences show variation, with Adult Health Nursing earning $66,230 while Behavioral Aspects of Health produces $43,924, reflecting different career trajectories within the health sector.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
The earnings distribution at USC Columbia shows meaningful variation in post-graduation outcomes, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $41,018 to $93,729. This 2.3:1 ratio indicates that program choice and career path significantly influence long-term financial success.
