Head-to-head comparison
Winthrop University vs Benedict College: which has better ROI?
Option A Rock Hill, SC
Winthrop University
- Net price / year
- $15,343
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,185
- 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 Winthrop University comes closer — median earnings $47,185 against a $61,372 total, vs $31,902 at Benedict College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Winthrop University | Benedict College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,343 | $18,250 |
| Total net cost | $61,372 | $73,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,185 | $31,902 |
| Median debt | $26,975 | $32,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$84,872 | -$402,160 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Winthrop University or Benedict College?
Winthrop University, at $15,343 a year after aid versus $18,250 — a gap of $2,907 a year, or $11,628 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 Winthrop University or Benedict College graduates earn more?
Winthrop University graduates report a median $47,185 ten years after entry, $15,283 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, Winthrop University or Benedict College?
Winthrop University: its completers carry a median $26,975 in federal loans versus $32,500 at Benedict College, a difference of $5,525. 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?
57% of students finish at Winthrop University, 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.