Head-to-head comparison
College of Charleston vs Furman University: which has better ROI?
Option A Charleston, SC
College of Charleston
- Net price / year
- $18,960
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,416
- Payback
- 9.4 yrs
Option B Greenville, SC
Furman University
- Net price / year
- $30,308
- Earnings, 10 years
- $68,635
- Payback
- 6 yrs
Furman University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $121,232 in 6 years versus 9.4 years at College of Charleston, on median earnings of $68,635 vs $56,416 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of Charleston | Furman University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,960 | $30,308 |
| Total net cost | $75,840 | $121,232 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,416 | $68,635 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $23,250 |
| Payback | 9.4 yrs | 6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $85,280 | $284,268 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, College of Charleston or Furman University?
College of Charleston, at $18,960 a year after aid versus $30,308 — a gap of $11,348 a year, or $45,392 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 College of Charleston or Furman University graduates earn more?
Furman University graduates report a median $68,635 ten years after entry, $12,219 more than the $56,416 at College of Charleston. 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, College of Charleston or Furman University?
Completers at both borrow a median $23,250, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
79% of students finish at Furman University, against 66% at College of Charleston. 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.