Head-to-head comparison
Lander University vs Aiken Technical College: which has better ROI?
Option A Greenwood, SC
Lander University
- Net price / year
- $15,363
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,396
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Graniteville, SC
Aiken Technical College
- Net price / year
- $4,807
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,225
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lander University comes closer — median earnings $42,396 against a $61,452 total, vs $39,225 at Aiken Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lander University | Aiken Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,363 | $4,807 |
| Total net cost | $61,452 | $9,614 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,396 | $39,225 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $12,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$180,732 | -$192,314 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lander University or Aiken Technical College?
Aiken Technical College, at $4,807 a year after aid versus $15,363 — a gap of $10,556 a year, or $51,838 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 Lander University or Aiken Technical College graduates earn more?
Lander University graduates report a median $42,396 ten years after entry, $3,171 more than the $39,225 at Aiken 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, Lander University or Aiken Technical College?
Aiken Technical College: its completers carry a median $12,250 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Lander University, a difference of $12,750. 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?
50% of students finish at Lander University, against 34% at Aiken 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.