Head-to-head comparison
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College vs Benedict College: which has better ROI?
Option A Orangeburg, SC
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
- Net price / year
- $6,186
- Earnings, 10 years
- $35,761
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Columbia, SC
Benedict College
- Net price / year
- $18,250
- Earnings, 10 years
- $31,902
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College comes closer — median earnings $35,761 against a $24,744 total, vs $31,902 at Benedict College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College | Benedict College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,186 | $18,250 |
| Total net cost | $24,744 | $73,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,761 | $31,902 |
| Median debt | $10,562 | $32,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$276,724 | -$402,160 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College or Benedict College?
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College, at $6,186 a year after aid versus $18,250 — a gap of $12,064 a year, or $48,256 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 Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College or Benedict College graduates earn more?
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College graduates report a median $35,761 ten years after entry, $3,859 more than the $31,902 at Benedict 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, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College or Benedict College?
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College: its completers carry a median $10,562 in federal loans versus $32,500 at Benedict College, a difference of $21,938. 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?
32% of students finish at Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College, against 24% at Benedict 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.