At $37,856/yr net price, Southeastern College-Columbia graduates earn $31,156/yr within 10 years of enrollment.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $37,856 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $151,424 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $31,156/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | $-2,844/yr |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 52.3% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $9,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $37,538/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $35,871/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $39,852/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $43,798/yr |
| $110,001+ | $43,798/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Certificate | $19,113 | $13,013 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Certificate | $18,877 | $9,500 |
| Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services. | Certificate | $17,218 | $7,811 |
The Risk Factor
52.3% of students at Southeastern College-Columbia graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
The financial return at Southeastern College-Columbia is weak. You pay a net price close to $38,000 a year, yet median earnings ten years out land at $31,156 , roughly what many jobs pay without any credential at all. Even with a low median debt of $9,500, the cost you put in does not match what you get back.
None of the top programs by earnings help the case. Health and Medical Administrative Services, Allied Health and Medical Assisting, and Somatic Bodywork all pay under $20,000 a year, and every one of them is a certificate, not a degree. The medical administrative certificate is the worst deal: you can leave owing $13,013 on earnings of $19,113. These are entry-level allied health wages in the Columbia market, and they do not clear the price you paid.
The specific risk here is the gap between price and payoff. You are paying private for-profit tuition for credentials that lead to sub-$20,000 jobs. A 52% graduation rate means almost half of you leave without finishing, and if you took on debt to get there, you carry it with no credential to show.
The net price tiers make this harder to justify. Families earning under $30,000 still face a net price above $37,000, and it climbs past $43,000 once income tops $75,000. There is no meaningful discount for lower-income families here, and 72.9% of you receive Pell Grants , you are a low-income student body paying near-full sticker.
This school is a poor financial fit for almost anyone. If your goal is an allied health career, a public community college in South Carolina offers the same certificates at a fraction of this net price. Look there first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Southeastern College-Columbia worth the cost?
With a net price of $37,856 per year and graduates earning only $31,156 annually after 10 years, Southeastern College-Columbia offers poor return on investment. The earnings are actually lower than the annual cost of attendance.
What are the best paying programs at Southeastern College-Columbia?
Even the highest-paying programs at Southeastern College-Columbia start around $19,000 annually for Health and Medical Administrative Services. All top programs pay significantly less than the school's annual cost, making financial recovery difficult.
How much debt do Southeastern College-Columbia graduates have?
The median debt is $9,500, which is relatively low compared to the school's high tuition costs. However, with low graduate earnings, even this modest debt burden may be challenging to repay.
What is the graduation rate at Southeastern College-Columbia?
Only 52% of students graduate from Southeastern College-Columbia. Combined with the poor earnings outcomes for those who do graduate, this presents significant financial risk for prospective students.