Head-to-head comparison
University of South Carolina-Lancaster vs Allen University: which has better ROI?
Option A Lancaster, SC
University of South Carolina-Lancaster
- Net price / year
- $9,801
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,426
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Columbia, SC
Allen University
- Net price / year
- $10,972
- Earnings, 10 years
- $30,497
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of South Carolina-Lancaster comes closer — median earnings $39,426 against a $19,602 total, vs $30,497 at Allen University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of South Carolina-Lancaster | Allen University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,801 | $10,972 |
| Total net cost | $19,602 | $43,888 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,426 | $30,497 |
| Median debt | $9,616 | $34,290 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$198,282 | -$401,148 |
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-Lancaster or Allen University?
University of South Carolina-Lancaster, at $9,801 a year after aid versus $10,972 — a gap of $1,171 a year, or $24,286 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-Lancaster or Allen University graduates earn more?
University of South Carolina-Lancaster graduates report a median $39,426 ten years after entry, $8,929 more than the $30,497 at Allen University. 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-Lancaster or Allen University?
University of South Carolina-Lancaster: its completers carry a median $9,616 in federal loans versus $34,290 at Allen University, a difference of $24,674. 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?
25% of students finish at University of South Carolina-Lancaster, against 13% at Allen University. 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.