Head-to-head comparison
Anderson University vs Claflin University: which has better ROI?
Option A Anderson, SC
Anderson University
- Net price / year
- $23,544
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,101
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Orangeburg, SC
Claflin University
- Net price / year
- $17,800
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,304
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Anderson University comes closer — median earnings $42,101 against a $94,176 total, vs $40,304 at Claflin University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Anderson University | Claflin University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,544 | $17,800 |
| Total net cost | $94,176 | $71,200 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,101 | $40,304 |
| Median debt | $26,700 | $29,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$219,356 | -$232,320 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Anderson University or Claflin University?
Claflin University, at $17,800 a year after aid versus $23,544 — a gap of $5,744 a year, or $22,976 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 Anderson University or Claflin University graduates earn more?
Anderson University graduates report a median $42,101 ten years after entry, $1,797 more than the $40,304 at Claflin 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, Anderson University or Claflin University?
Anderson University: its completers carry a median $26,700 in federal loans versus $29,000 at Claflin University, a difference of $2,300. 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?
66% of students finish at Anderson University, against 52% at Claflin 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.