Head-to-head comparison
Allen University vs South University-Columbia: which has better ROI?
Option A Columbia, SC
Allen University
- Net price / year
- $10,972
- Earnings, 10 years
- $30,497
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Columbia, SC
South University-Columbia
- Net price / year
- $27,693
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,421
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but South University-Columbia comes closer — median earnings $34,421 against a $110,772 total, vs $30,497 at Allen University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Allen University | South University-Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,972 | $27,693 |
| Total net cost | $43,888 | $110,772 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $30,497 | $34,421 |
| Median debt | $34,290 | $26,123 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$401,148 | -$389,552 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Allen University or South University-Columbia?
Allen University, at $10,972 a year after aid versus $27,693 — a gap of $16,721 a year, or $66,884 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Allen University or South University-Columbia graduates earn more?
South University-Columbia graduates report a median $34,421 ten years after entry, $3,924 more than the $30,497 at Allen University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Allen University or South University-Columbia?
South University-Columbia: its completers carry a median $26,123 in federal loans versus $34,290 at Allen University, a difference of $8,167. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
23% of students finish at South University-Columbia, against 13% at Allen University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.