Head-to-head comparison
Anderson University vs University of South Carolina Aiken: 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 Aiken, SC
University of South Carolina Aiken
- Net price / year
- $11,641
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,603
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of South Carolina Aiken comes closer — median earnings $45,603 against a $46,564 total, vs $42,101 at Anderson University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Anderson University | University of South Carolina Aiken |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,544 | $11,641 |
| Total net cost | $94,176 | $46,564 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,101 | $45,603 |
| Median debt | $26,700 | $24,275 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$219,356 | -$101,704 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Anderson University or University of South Carolina Aiken?
University of South Carolina Aiken, at $11,641 a year after aid versus $23,544 — a gap of $11,903 a year, or $47,612 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 University of South Carolina Aiken graduates earn more?
University of South Carolina Aiken graduates report a median $45,603 ten years after entry, $3,502 more than the $42,101 at Anderson 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 University of South Carolina Aiken?
University of South Carolina Aiken: its completers carry a median $24,275 in federal loans versus $26,700 at Anderson University, a difference of $2,425. 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 40% at University of South Carolina Aiken. 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.