Head-to-head comparison
Bob Jones University vs University of South Carolina-Sumter: 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 Sumter, SC
University of South Carolina-Sumter
- Net price / year
- $7,712
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,437
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of South Carolina-Sumter comes closer — median earnings $42,437 against a $15,424 total, vs $44,354 at Bob Jones University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bob Jones University | University of South Carolina-Sumter |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,641 | $7,712 |
| Total net cost | $66,564 | $15,424 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,354 | $42,437 |
| Median debt | $16,585 | $9,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$146,684 | -$133,884 |
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 University of South Carolina-Sumter?
University of South Carolina-Sumter, at $7,712 a year after aid versus $16,641 — a gap of $8,929 a year, or $51,140 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 University of South Carolina-Sumter graduates earn more?
Bob Jones University graduates report a median $44,354 ten years after entry, $1,917 more than the $42,437 at University of South Carolina-Sumter. 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 University of South Carolina-Sumter?
University of South Carolina-Sumter: its completers carry a median $9,250 in federal loans versus $16,585 at Bob Jones University, a difference of $7,335. 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 39% at University of South Carolina-Sumter. 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.