At $11,125/yr net price, University of South Carolina-Union graduates earn $33,699/yr within 10 years of enrollment.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $11,125 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $44,500 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $33,699/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | $-301/yr |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 37.5% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $11,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,131/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,654/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,714/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $14,597/yr |
| $110,001+ | $15,813/yr |
The Risk Factor
37.5% of students at University of South Carolina-Union graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
The financial picture at University of South Carolina-Union is weak on earnings and modest on cost. Ten years out, your median earnings land at $33,699, which is barely above what many jobs pay without a credential at all. That is the core problem here, and no amount of low debt fully offsets it.
The upside is that the cost stays contained. A median debt of $11,000 is low, and it matches roughly one year of net price. If you finish, you are not walking away buried. But finishing is a real risk: fewer than 4 in 10 students graduate. Drop out with debt and no degree, and you get the worst outcome this school can hand you.
No bachelor-level program salary data is listed, so treat this as a transfer step, not an endpoint. USC-Union is a two-year school, and its numbers make more sense as a cheap on-ramp to a four-year degree elsewhere within the USC system. Use it to knock out general credits at low cost, then transfer. The $33,699 figure reflects people who stopped here, and it shows why stopping here is not the plan you want.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families most. If your family earns under $30k, you pay about $7,131 a year, less than half of what families above $110k pay at $15,813. That gap of nearly $8,700 makes this a genuinely affordable option if your household income is low.
This school fits you if you want to start college cheaply near Union and transfer to finish a bachelor's degree. Look elsewhere if you plan to stop at the associate level and expect those credits alone to move your earnings much above the median shown here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is University of South Carolina-Union worth the cost compared to other colleges?
With a net price of $11,125 and 10-year earnings of $33,699, USC-Union offers below-average financial returns. The low graduation rate of 37.5% means many students don't finish, which significantly impacts career prospects.
What is the job market like for University of South Carolina-Union graduates?
USC-Union graduates earn about $33,699 ten years after enrollment, which is lower than most four-year college graduates nationally. The school's 37.5% graduation rate suggests many students struggle to complete their programs and access better job opportunities.
How much student debt do University of South Carolina-Union graduates typically have?
The median debt load is relatively manageable at $11,000, which is lower than many colleges. However, this debt level becomes problematic when paired with the low average earnings of $33,699 for graduates.
What are the biggest financial risks of attending University of South Carolina-Union?
The primary risk is the 37.5% graduation rate, meaning nearly two-thirds of students don't finish their degree. Students who don't graduate often face limited career options while still carrying educational debt.