Head-to-head comparison
University of South Carolina Aiken vs Benedict College: which has better ROI?
Option A Aiken, SC
University of South Carolina Aiken
- Net price / year
- $11,641
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,603
- 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 University of South Carolina Aiken comes closer — median earnings $45,603 against a $46,564 total, vs $31,902 at Benedict College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of South Carolina Aiken | Benedict College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,641 | $18,250 |
| Total net cost | $46,564 | $73,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,603 | $31,902 |
| Median debt | $24,275 | $32,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$101,704 | -$402,160 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of South Carolina Aiken or Benedict College?
University of South Carolina Aiken, at $11,641 a year after aid versus $18,250 — a gap of $6,609 a year, or $26,436 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 University of South Carolina Aiken or Benedict College graduates earn more?
University of South Carolina Aiken graduates report a median $45,603 ten years after entry, $13,701 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, University of South Carolina Aiken or Benedict College?
University of South Carolina Aiken: its completers carry a median $24,275 in federal loans versus $32,500 at Benedict College, a difference of $8,225. 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?
40% of students finish at University of South Carolina Aiken, 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.