Head-to-head comparison
Anderson University vs South Carolina State 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
South Carolina State University
- Net price / year
- $18,097
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,262
- 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 $38,262 at South Carolina State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Anderson University | South Carolina State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,544 | $18,097 |
| Total net cost | $94,176 | $72,388 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,101 | $38,262 |
| Median debt | $26,700 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$219,356 | -$274,348 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Anderson University or South Carolina State University?
South Carolina State University, at $18,097 a year after aid versus $23,544 — a gap of $5,447 a year, or $21,788 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 South Carolina State University graduates earn more?
Anderson University graduates report a median $42,101 ten years after entry, $3,839 more than the $38,262 at South Carolina State 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 South Carolina State University?
Anderson University: its completers carry a median $26,700 in federal loans versus $31,000 at South Carolina State University, a difference of $4,300. 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 37% at South Carolina State 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.