Head-to-head comparison
Central Carolina Technical College vs University of South Carolina-Lancaster: 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 Lancaster, SC
University of South Carolina-Lancaster
- Net price / year
- $9,801
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,426
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of South Carolina-Lancaster comes closer — median earnings $39,426 against a $19,602 total, vs $32,603 at Central Carolina Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Carolina Technical College | University of South Carolina-Lancaster |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,571 | $9,801 |
| Total net cost | $22,284 | $19,602 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,603 | $39,426 |
| Median debt | $9,977 | $9,616 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$337,424 | -$198,282 |
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 University of South Carolina-Lancaster?
Central Carolina Technical College, at $5,571 a year after aid versus $9,801 — a gap of $4,230 a year, or $2,682 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 University of South Carolina-Lancaster graduates earn more?
University of South Carolina-Lancaster graduates report a median $39,426 ten years after entry, $6,823 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 University of South Carolina-Lancaster?
University of South Carolina-Lancaster: its completers carry a median $9,616 in federal loans versus $9,977 at Central Carolina Technical College, a difference of $361. 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 25% at University of South Carolina-Lancaster. 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.