Head-to-head comparison
Benedict College vs South University-Columbia: which has better ROI?
Option A Columbia, SC
Benedict College
- Net price / year
- $18,250
- Earnings, 10 years
- $31,902
- 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 $31,902 at Benedict College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Benedict College | South University-Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,250 | $27,693 |
| Total net cost | $73,000 | $110,772 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $31,902 | $34,421 |
| Median debt | $32,500 | $26,123 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$402,160 | -$389,552 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Benedict College or South University-Columbia?
Benedict College, at $18,250 a year after aid versus $27,693 — a gap of $9,443 a year, or $37,772 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 Benedict College or South University-Columbia graduates earn more?
South University-Columbia graduates report a median $34,421 ten years after entry, $2,519 more than the $31,902 at Benedict College. 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, Benedict College or South University-Columbia?
South University-Columbia: its completers carry a median $26,123 in federal loans versus $32,500 at Benedict College, a difference of $6,377. 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?
24% of students finish at Benedict College, against 23% at South University-Columbia. 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.