Head-to-head comparison
Central Carolina Technical College vs South University-Columbia: which has better ROI?
Option A Sumter, SC
Central Carolina Technical College
- Net price / year
- $5,571
- Earnings, 10 years
- $32,603
- 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 Central Carolina Technical College comes closer — median earnings $32,603 against a $22,284 total, vs $34,421 at South University-Columbia. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Carolina Technical College | South University-Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,571 | $27,693 |
| Total net cost | $22,284 | $110,772 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,603 | $34,421 |
| Median debt | $9,977 | $26,123 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$337,424 | -$389,552 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Central Carolina Technical College or South University-Columbia?
Central Carolina Technical College, at $5,571 a year after aid versus $27,693 — a gap of $22,122 a year, or $88,488 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 Central Carolina Technical College or South University-Columbia graduates earn more?
South University-Columbia graduates report a median $34,421 ten years after entry, $1,818 more than the $32,603 at Central Carolina Technical 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, Central Carolina Technical College or South University-Columbia?
Central Carolina Technical College: its completers carry a median $9,977 in federal loans versus $26,123 at South University-Columbia, a difference of $16,146. 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?
34% of students finish at Central Carolina Technical 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.