Head-to-head comparison
Bob Jones University vs South University-Columbia: which has better ROI?
Option A Greenville, SC
Bob Jones University
- Net price / year
- $16,641
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,354
- 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 Bob Jones University comes closer — median earnings $44,354 against a $66,564 total, vs $34,421 at South University-Columbia. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bob Jones University | South University-Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,641 | $27,693 |
| Total net cost | $66,564 | $110,772 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,354 | $34,421 |
| Median debt | $16,585 | $26,123 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$146,684 | -$389,552 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bob Jones University or South University-Columbia?
Bob Jones University, at $16,641 a year after aid versus $27,693 — a gap of $11,052 a year, or $44,208 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 Bob Jones University or South University-Columbia graduates earn more?
Bob Jones University graduates report a median $44,354 ten years after entry, $9,933 more than the $34,421 at South University-Columbia. 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, Bob Jones University or South University-Columbia?
Bob Jones University: its completers carry a median $16,585 in federal loans versus $26,123 at South University-Columbia, a difference of $9,538. 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?
65% of students finish at Bob Jones University, 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.