Head-to-head comparison
Francis Marion University vs Central Carolina Technical College: which has better ROI?
Option A Florence, SC
Francis Marion University
- Net price / year
- $11,386
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,888
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Sumter, SC
Central Carolina Technical College
- Net price / year
- $5,571
- Earnings, 10 years
- $32,603
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Francis Marion University comes closer — median earnings $43,888 against a $45,544 total, vs $32,603 at Central Carolina Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Francis Marion University | Central Carolina Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,386 | $5,571 |
| Total net cost | $45,544 | $22,284 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,888 | $32,603 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $9,977 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$134,984 | -$337,424 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Francis Marion University or Central Carolina Technical College?
Central Carolina Technical College, at $5,571 a year after aid versus $11,386 — a gap of $5,815 a year, or $23,260 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 Francis Marion University or Central Carolina Technical College graduates earn more?
Francis Marion University graduates report a median $43,888 ten years after entry, $11,285 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, Francis Marion University or Central Carolina Technical College?
Central Carolina Technical College: its completers carry a median $9,977 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Francis Marion University, a difference of $17,023. 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?
43% of students finish at Francis Marion University, against 34% at Central Carolina Technical College. 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.