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Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2020
Questions & Answers
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What do all these numbers mean?
All costs are the average net cost paid by families in each income bracket. Net cost is the total cost of attendance minus government grants and institutional scholarships. Loans of any kind are not included. Figures are based on data from the 2017-18 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2020.
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What is “Total Cost” on the chart?
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular college. It includes:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
There are detailed chart below for each school that shows these expenses. Click here to go to the individual cost breakdown for schools.
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How can I use this information?
This information is useful for building a realistic college budget. It's a good place to start until you better understand your specific circumstances. For example, let's say your income is $100,000 per year. This chart shows that the average state school would run $19,595 and the average private school would be $22,704. You can also get information on specific South Carolina schools in the chart above or the tables below.
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Will my family pay the amount on this chart?
Probably not. The numbers are averages. You may be below average or above average. However, there are two key points we can learn from this data:
- Families with higher incomes ($75,000-$110,000 and $110,000+) will most likely pay close to full price at the public schools.
- Private colleges have a higher list price but offer more discounts. This brings their net price much closer to the cost of state-funded schools.
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Where did this information come from?
As part of federal financial aid, colleges are required to provide detailed cost information to the U.S. government. This data is made available to the public through the National Center for Education Statistics. For more details, click here.
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What about athletes, merit aid or minority students?
Athletes, high achieving students, and those with minority status are averaged in with everyone else. Within each income bracket, there are families that pay more than average and families that pay less than average.
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The costs on this chart seemed large, how can families afford to pay it?
For many families paying for college is not easy, but in the end they figure out. Most families will pay their net cost of college with some combination of:
- college savings and investments
- payments from current income
- loans
- outside scholarships (check out our Scholarship Guide For Busy Parents, which describes how you and your student can win scholarships for college and save money!)
- tax planning
- student work
Net Price:
Net price is the total cost of attendance minus the average amount of government grants and institutional scholarships awarded. This is an average, so you may pay above the average or below the average. Your exact net price is likely to be different and sometimes drastically different.
Most families will pay the net price with some combination of savings and investments, current income and various loans. Some students will also receive scholarships from sources other than the federal or state government or the college. Any scholarships and grants from these outside sources are not included in the data. However, government grants and institutional scholarships are included in the averages.
| Total Cost at University of South Carolina-Columbia (2017-18) | |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $11,862 |
| Room and Board | $10,008 |
| Books | $1,044 |
| Other Expenses | $4,148 |
| Total | $27,062 |
Total Cost:
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular institution for the 2017-18 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2020. Total costs include:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
| College Total Cost | ||
|---|---|---|
| Family Income | SC Public $26,692 | SC Private $41,540 |
| $0 - $30k | $13,155 | $17,427 |
| $30,001 – $48k | $14,993 | $18,191 |
| $48,001 – $75k | $18,146 | $20,496 |
| $75,001 – $110k | $19,595 | $22,704 |
| $110,001+ | $20,259 | $24,794 |
Public vs. Private Averages
This table shows the average total cost of attendance for the South Carolina public and private colleges we have included in our analysis. The costs include a breakdown of the average net price paid by family income. Notice that the average private college is $3,000-$5,000 more than the average public school, depending on your income bracket. It is important to stress that these are averages. Most families will not be average, and their individual circumstances could be drastically different. I encourage all families to work with their preferred colleges to get information specific to their family.
Below are similar charts for each individual private and public college in South Carolina. Click a school to view its complete chart.
Public SC Schools Cost Breakdown
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College of Charleston
Charleston Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $12,422 $12,838 Room and Board $12,048 $12,166 Books $1,211 $1,218 Other Expenses $3,988 $4,017 Total $29,669 $30,239 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,974 $15,262 $30,001 - $48k $16,570 $16,888 $48,001 - $75k $20,145 $20,532 $75,001 - $110k $22,268 $22,696 $110,001+ $22,741 $23,178 -
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Charleston Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $12,056 $12,516 Room and Board $6,600 $6,904 Books $7,795 $7,950 Other Expenses $2,292 $2,293 Total $28,743 $29,663 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,760 $9,040 $30,001 - $48k $14,993 $15,473 $48,001 - $75k $18,962 $19,569 $75,001 - $110k $21,669 $22,363 $110,001+ $21,599 $22,290 -
Clemson University
Clemson Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $15,116 $15,374 Room and Board $9,592 $10,832 Books $1,346 $1,392 Other Expenses $3,520 $3,672 Total $29,574 $31,270 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,131 $13,884 $30,001 - $48k $14,199 $15,013 $48,001 - $75k $18,356 $19,409 $75,001 - $110k $20,369 $21,537 $110,001+ $21,052 $22,259 -
Francis Marion University
Florence Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $10,742 $11,976 Room and Board $7,948 $8,211 Books $1,008 $1,030 Other Expenses $3,544 $3,637 Total $23,242 $24,854 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $9,743 $10,419 $30,001 - $48k $10,824 $11,575 $48,001 - $75k $14,424 $15,424 $75,001 - $110k $15,916 $17,020 $110,001+ $17,925 $19,168 -
Lander University
Greenwood Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $11,700 $11,700 Room and Board $8,900 $9,100 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $2,700 $2,700 Total $24,500 $24,700 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,653 $12,756 $30,001 - $48k $13,391 $13,500 $48,001 - $75k $15,294 $15,419 $75,001 - $110k $17,343 $17,485 $110,001+ $18,197 $18,346 -
University of South Carolina-Aiken
Aiken Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $10,502 $10,760 Room and Board $7,592 $7,766 Books $1,706 $1,706 Other Expenses $4,586 $4,586 Total $24,386 $24,818 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,465 $12,686 $30,001 - $48k $13,148 $13,381 $48,001 - $75k $15,952 $16,235 $75,001 - $110k $18,288 $18,612 $110,001+ $17,961 $18,279
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University of South Carolina-Beaufort
Bluffton Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $10,647 $10,730 Room and Board $8,584 $9,186 Books $1,213 $1,247 Other Expenses $3,867 $3,979 Total $24,311 $25,142 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,770 $14,241 $30,001 - $48k $14,597 $15,096 $48,001 - $75k $18,230 $18,853 $75,001 - $110k $18,947 $19,595 $110,001+ $19,735 $20,410 -
University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $11,862 $12,618 Room and Board $10,008 $10,388 Books $1,044 $1,065 Other Expenses $4,148 $4,232 Total $27,062 $28,303 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,819 $11,315 $30,001 - $48k $15,090 $15,782 $48,001 - $75k $19,566 $20,463 $75,001 - $110k $21,363 $22,343 $110,001+ $23,262 $24,329 -
Coastal Carolina University
Conway Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $11,200 $11,716 Room and Board $9,414 $9,452 Books $1,170 $1,062 Other Expenses $3,804 $3,290 Total $25,588 $25,520 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,909 $12,875 $30,001 - $48k $15,033 $14,993 $48,001 - $75k $17,304 $17,258 $75,001 - $110k $19,333 $19,282 $110,001+ $20,670 $20,615 -
South Carolina State University
Orangeburg Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $10,740 $11,060 Room and Board $9,000 $9,000 Books $2,000 $2,000 Other Expenses $8,000 $8,000 Total $29,740 $30,060 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,488 $20,708 $30,001 - $48k $21,919 $22,155 $48,001 - $75k $24,045 $24,304 $75,001 - $110k $26,906 $27,196 $110,001+ $25,260 $25,532 -
University of South Carolina-Upstate
Spartanburg Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $11,520 $11,852 Room and Board $8,334 $8,394 Books $1,600 $1,600 Other Expenses $3,464 $3,596 Total $24,918 $25,442 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,654 $12,920 $30,001 - $48k $14,247 $14,547 $48,001 - $75k $17,699 $18,071 $75,001 - $110k $19,467 $19,876 $110,001+ $19,728 $20,143 -
Winthrop University
Rock Hill Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $15,220 $15,730 Room and Board $9,118 $8,948 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,028 $3,060 Total $28,566 $28,938 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,492 $15,694 $30,001 - $48k $15,908 $16,115 $48,001 - $75k $17,778 $18,010 $75,001 - $110k $20,583 $20,851 $110,001+ $19,982 $20,242
Private SC Schools Cost Breakdown
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Allen University
Columbia Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $13,040 $12,940 Room and Board $6,880 $7,230 Books $1,308 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,500 $2,000 Total $23,728 $23,170 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,106 $13,774 $30,001 - $48k $15,370 $15,009 $48,001 - $75k $16,697 $16,304 $75,001 - $110k $18,389 $17,957 $110,001+ $18,031 $17,607 -
Anderson University
Anderson Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $26,970 $28,000 Room and Board $9,680 $9,830 Books $2,000 $2,000 Other Expenses $3,280 $3,280 Total $41,930 $43,110 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $18,459 $18,978 $30,001 - $48k $18,653 $19,178 $48,001 - $75k $20,934 $21,523 $75,001 - $110k $22,532 $23,166 $110,001+ $23,707 $24,374 -
Charleston Southern
Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $24,840 $25,540 Room and Board $9,900 $10,200 Books $1,400 $1,400 Other Expenses $3,800 $3,800 Total $39,940 $40,940 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,406 $15,792 $30,001 - $48k $15,448 $15,835 $48,001 - $75k $17,056 $17,483 $75,001 - $110k $19,813 $20,309 $110,001+ $21,651 $22,193 -
Benedict College
Columbia Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $19,958 $16,600 Room and Board $8,924 $6,200 Books $2,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,100 $4,200 Total $32,982 $28,000 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $24,245 $20,583 $30,001 - $48k $26,112 $22,168 $48,001 - $75k $27,806 $23,606 $75,001 - $110k $23,118 $19,626 $110,001+ $19,843 $16,846 -
Claflin University
Orangeburg Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $16,480 $16,854 Room and Board $9,112 $9,294 Books $1,850 $1,850 Other Expenses $5,200 $5,200 Total $32,642 $33,198 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,440 $19,771 $30,001 - $48k $20,524 $20,874 $48,001 - $75k $15,375 $15,637 $75,001 - $110k $24,525 $24,943 $110,001+ $17,474 $17,772 -
Coker College
Hartsville Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $28,684 $29,548 Room and Board $8,824 $9,090 Books $1,513 $1,800 Other Expenses $1,122 $1,610 Total $40,143 $42,048 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,418 $16,150 $30,001 - $48k $15,169 $15,889 $48,001 - $75k $16,583 $17,370 $75,001 - $110k $22,269 $23,326 $110,001+ $23,115 $24,212 -
Columbia International University
Columbia Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $22,390 $23,690 Room and Board $7,990 $8,150 Books $600 $600 Other Expenses $3,710 $3,710 Total $34,690 $36,150 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,010 $17,726 $30,001 - $48k $12,730 $13,266 $48,001 - $75k $16,390 $17,080 $75,001 - $110k $19,566 $20,389 $110,001+ $23,028 $23,997 -
Columbia College
Columbia Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $19,500 $19,500 Room and Board $7,900 $7,900 Books $1,203 $1,203 Other Expenses $4,518 $4,520 Total $33,121 $33,123 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,387 $14,388 $30,001 - $48k $14,872 $14,873 $48,001 - $75k $18,311 $18,312 $75,001 - $110k $17,226 $17,227 $110,001+ $18,892 $18,893
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Converse College
Spartanburg Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $17,680 $18,340 Room and Board $10,610 $10,930 Books $1,350 $1,350 Other Expenses $4,550 $3,610 Total $34,190 $34,230 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,971 $15,990 $30,001 - $48k $17,969 $17,990 $48,001 - $75k $19,124 $19,146 $75,001 - $110k $20,153 $20,177 $110,001+ $21,375 $21,400 -
Erskine College
Due West Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $35,245 $36,150 Room and Board $11,350 $11,350 Books $2,000 $2,100 Other Expenses $3,500 $3,900 Total $52,095 $53,500 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $21,136 $21,706 $30,001 - $48k $32,242 $33,112 $48,001 - $75k $39,242 $40,300 $75,001 - $110k $34,538 $35,469 $110,001+ $38,660 $39,703 -
Furman University
Greenville Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $48,348 $49,532 Room and Board $12,158 $12,712 Books $1,230 $810 Other Expenses $1,970 $1,970 Total $63,706 $65,024 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,788 $12,032 $30,001 - $48k $20,291 $20,711 $48,001 - $75k $21,798 $22,249 $75,001 - $110k $27,486 $28,055 $110,001+ $36,078 $36,824 -
Limestone College
Gaffney Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $25,025 $25,025 Room and Board $8,808 $8,808 Books $2,304 $2,304 Other Expenses $4,864 $4,864 Total $41,001 $41,001 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $23,067 $23,067 $30,001 - $48k $21,847 $21,847 $48,001 - $75k $25,147 $25,147 $75,001 - $110k $23,873 $23,873 $110,001+ $27,535 $27,535 -
Newberry College
Newberry Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $25,900 $26,424 Room and Board $10,142 $10,666 Books $850 $756 Other Expenses $3,362 $3,353 Total $40,254 $41,199 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $24,554 $25,130 $30,001 - $48k $17,107 $17,509 $48,001 - $75k $19,583 $20,043 $75,001 - $110k $21,460 $21,964 $110,001+ $22,497 $23,025 -
North Greenville University
Tigerville Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $19,150 $19,750 Room and Board $10,240 $10,240 Books $2,200 $2,244 Other Expenses $4,410 $4,448 Total $36,000 $36,682 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $18,557 $18,909 $30,001 - $48k $16,458 $16,770 $48,001 - $75k $21,383 $21,788 $75,001 - $110k $21,112 $21,512 $110,001+ $22,451 $22,876 -
Presbyterian College
Clinton Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $37,842 $38,660 Room and Board $10,298 $10,480 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $2,570 $2,570 Total $51,910 $52,910 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,350 $15,646 $30,001 - $48k $15,223 $15,516 $48,001 - $75k $17,279 $17,612 $75,001 - $110k $21,748 $22,167 $110,001+ $26,644 $27,157 -
Voorhees College
Denmark Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $12,630 $12,630 Room and Board $7,346 $7,346 Books $1,500 $1,500 Other Expenses $4,860 $4,860 Total $26,336 $26,336 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,234 $17,234 $30,001 - $48k $19,151 $19,151 $48,001 - $75k $23,685 $23,685 $75,001 - $110k $26,044 $26,044 $110,001+ $26,377 $26,377 -
Wofford College
Spartanburg Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $41,955 $43,985 Room and Board $12,140 $12,685 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $2,454 $2,493 Total $57,749 $60,363 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,751 $17,509 $30,001 - $48k $18,955 $19,813 $48,001 - $75k $22,541 $23,561 $75,001 - $110k $25,871 $27,042 $110,001+ $30,772 $32,165
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