Head-to-head comparison
University of South Carolina-Columbia vs Wofford College: which has better ROI?
Option A Columbia, SC
University of South Carolina-Columbia
- Net price / year
- $22,811
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,177
- Payback
- 6.6 yrs
Option B Spartanburg, SC
Wofford College
- Net price / year
- $18,732
- Earnings, 10 years
- $68,964
- Payback
- 3.6 yrs
Wofford College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $74,928 in 3.6 years versus 6.6 years at University of South Carolina-Columbia, on median earnings of $68,964 vs $62,177 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of South Carolina-Columbia | Wofford College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,811 | $18,732 |
| Total net cost | $91,244 | $74,928 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,177 | $68,964 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $25,732 |
| Payback | 6.6 yrs | 3.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $185,096 | $337,152 |
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-Columbia or Wofford College?
Wofford College, at $18,732 a year after aid versus $22,811 — a gap of $4,079 a year, or $16,316 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-Columbia or Wofford College graduates earn more?
Wofford College graduates report a median $68,964 ten years after entry, $6,787 more than the $62,177 at University of South Carolina-Columbia. 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-Columbia or Wofford College?
University of South Carolina-Columbia: its completers carry a median $21,500 in federal loans versus $25,732 at Wofford College, a difference of $4,232. 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?
84% of students finish at Wofford College, against 79% at University of South Carolina-Columbia. 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.