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Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2021
Questions & Answers
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What do all these numbers mean?
All costs shown here are the average net cost paid by families in each income bracket for one year at the college in question. Net cost is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus government grants and institutional scholarships. Figures are based on data from the 2018-19 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2021.
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What is “Total Cost” on the chart?
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for one year at 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 $19,883 and the average private school would be $22,610. 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 seem 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 the Scholarship Guide For Busy Parents to learn how your student can win scholarships)
- Tax planning
- Student work
Net Price:
Net prices is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus the average amount in government grants and institutional scholarships the school awards. 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 (2018-19) | |
|---|---|
| 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 2018-19 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2021. 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 $27,412 | SC Private $42,443 |
| $0 - $30k | $13,208 | $17,347 |
| $30,001 – $48k | $14,574 | $17,983 |
| $48,001 – $75k | $17,738 | $19,367 |
| $75,001 – $110k | $19,883 | $22,610 |
| $110,001+ | $20,553 | $23,842 |
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 $2,000-$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 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $12,838 $12,939 Room and Board $12,166 $12,123 Books $1,218 $1,236 Other Expenses $4,017 $3,923 Total $30,239 $30,221 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,690 $14,681 $30,001 - $48k $15,910 $15,901 $48,001 - $75k $20,250 $20,238 $75,001 - $110k $22,570 $22,557 $110,001+ $22,662 $22,649 -
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Charleston Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $12,516 $12,620 Room and Board $6,904 $7,109 Books $7,950 $8,000 Other Expenses $2,293 $2,293 Total $29,663 $30,022 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $7,296 $7,384 $30,001 - $48k $11,373 $11,511 $48,001 - $75k $15,483 $15,670 $75,001 - $110k $23,368 $23,651 $110,001+ $23,402 $23,685 -
Clemson University
Clemson Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $15,374 $15,558 Room and Board $10,832 $11,414 Books $1,392 $1,436 Other Expenses $3,672 $4,054 Total $31,270 $32,462 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,698 $14,220 $30,001 - $48k $14,413 $14,962 $48,001 - $75k $18,971 $19,694 $75,001 - $110k $22,937 $23,811 $110,001+ $23,933 $24,845 -
Francis Marion University
Florence Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $11,976 $11,160 Room and Board $8,211 $8,211 Books $1,030 $1,157 Other Expenses $3,637 $3,716 Total $24,854 $24,244 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,548 $11,265 $30,001 - $48k $11,143 $10,870 $48,001 - $75k $13,612 $13,278 $75,001 - $110k $15,464 $15,084 $110,001+ $17,268 $16,844 -
Lander University
Greenwood Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $11,700 $11,700 Room and Board $9,100 $9,400 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $2,700 $2,770 Total $24,700 $25,070 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,973 $11,137 $30,001 - $48k $11,295 $11,464 $48,001 - $75k $13,555 $13,758 $75,001 - $110k $15,004 $15,229 $110,001+ $14,849 $15,071 -
University of South Carolina-Aiken
Aiken Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $10,760 $10,760 Room and Board $7,766 $7,946 Books $1,706 $1,240 Other Expenses $4,586 $2,781 Total $24,818 $22,727 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,198 $11,170 $30,001 - $48k $14,143 $12,951 $48,001 - $75k $16,770 $15,357 $75,001 - $110k $17,864 $16,359 $110,001+ $18,827 $17,241
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University of South Carolina-Beaufort
Bluffton Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $10,730 $10,730 Room and Board $9,186 $8,350 Books $1,247 $1,260 Other Expenses $3,979 $4,020 Total $25,142 $24,360 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,365 $12,949 $30,001 - $48k $14,564 $14,111 $48,001 - $75k $18,358 $17,787 $75,001 - $110k $19,700 $19,087 $110,001+ $20,159 $19,532 -
University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $12,618 $12,688 Room and Board $10,388 $10,670 Books $1,065 $1,085 Other Expenses $4,232 $4,386 Total $28,303 $28,829 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,426 $12,657 $30,001 - $48k $16,111 $16,410 $48,001 - $75k $20,783 $21,169 $75,001 - $110k $22,382 $22,798 $110,001+ $24,449 $24,903 -
Coastal Carolina University
Conway Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $11,716 $11,640 Room and Board $9,452 $9,502 Books $1,062 $1,082 Other Expenses $3,290 $3,500 Total $25,520 $25,724 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,442 $12,541 $30,001 - $48k $12,933 $13,036 $48,001 - $75k $15,010 $15,130 $75,001 - $110k $18,059 $18,203 $110,001+ $18,293 $18,439 -
South Carolina State University
Orangeburg Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $11,060 $11,060 Room and Board $9,000 $9,000 Books $2,000 $2,000 Other Expenses $8,000 $8,000 Total $30,060 $30,060 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,630 $19,630 $30,001 - $48k $20,715 $20,715 $48,001 - $75k $22,690 $22,690 $75,001 - $110k $26,033 $26,033 $110,001+ $26,321 $26,321 -
University of South Carolina-Upstate
Spartanburg Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $11,852 $11,558 Room and Board $8,394 $8,598 Books $1,600 $1,600 Other Expenses $3,596 $3,637 Total $25,442 $25,393 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,543 $13,517 $30,001 - $48k $15,021 $14,992 $48,001 - $75k $17,802 $17,768 $75,001 - $110k $19,927 $19,889 $110,001+ $19,985 $19,947 -
Winthrop University
Rock Hill Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $15,730 $15,806 Room and Board $8,948 $9,628 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,060 $3,120 Total $28,938 $29,754 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,682 $17,152 $30,001 - $48k $17,267 $17,754 $48,001 - $75k $19,575 $20,127 $75,001 - $110k $21,436 $22,040 $110,001+ $22,255 $22,883
Private SC Schools Cost Breakdown
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Allen University
Columbia Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $12,940 $13,340 Room and Board $7,230 $7,592 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,000 $2,000 Total $23,170 $23,932 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,754 $14,206 $30,001 - $48k $14,219 $14,687 $48,001 - $75k $15,482 $15,991 $75,001 - $110k $19,413 $20,051 $110,001+ $15,836 $16,357 -
Anderson University
Anderson Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $28,000 $29,230 Room and Board $9,830 $10,280 Books $2,000 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,280 $3,664 Total $43,110 $44,374 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,346 $20,943 $30,001 - $48k $15,045 $15,486 $48,001 - $75k $21,495 $22,125 $75,001 - $110k $23,621 $24,314 $110,001+ $23,599 $24,291 -
Charleston Southern
Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $25,540 $26,000 Room and Board $10,200 $10,400 Books $1,400 $1,400 Other Expenses $3,800 $3,800 Total $40,940 $41,600 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,652 $14,888 $30,001 - $48k $16,273 $16,535 $48,001 - $75k $18,489 $18,787 $75,001 - $110k $19,384 $19,696 $110,001+ $20,753 $21,088 -
Benedict College
Columbia Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $16,600 $16,600 Room and Board $6,200 $6,200 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $4,200 $4,200 Total $28,000 $28,000 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,036 $14,036 $30,001 - $48k $14,149 $14,149 $48,001 - $75k $13,434 $13,434 $75,001 - $110k $16,371 $16,371 $110,001+ $21,836 $21,836 -
Claflin University
Orangeburg Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $16,854 $17,192 Room and Board $9,294 $9,480 Books $1,850 $1,900 Other Expenses $5,200 $5,250 Total $33,198 $33,822 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $18,139 $18,480 $30,001 - $48k $19,068 $19,426 $48,001 - $75k $14,343 $14,613 $75,001 - $110k $21,554 $21,959 $110,001+ $22,402 $22,823 -
Coker College
Hartsville Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $29,548 $30,196 Room and Board $9,090 $9,604 Books $1,800 $2,000 Other Expenses $1,610 $1,715 Total $42,048 $43,515 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,987 $14,475 $30,001 - $48k $14,503 $15,009 $48,001 - $75k $11,421 $11,819 $75,001 - $110k $16,133 $16,696 $110,001+ $10,559 $10,927 -
Columbia International University
Columbia Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $23,690 $24,000 Room and Board $8,150 $8,850 Books $600 $600 Other Expenses $3,710 $3,710 Total $36,150 $37,160 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,575 $17,038 $30,001 - $48k $14,738 $15,150 $48,001 - $75k $18,451 $18,967 $75,001 - $110k $19,418 $19,961 $110,001+ $22,628 $23,260 -
Columbia College
Columbia Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $19,500 $19,890 Room and Board $7,900 $7,900 Books $1,203 $1,258 Other Expenses $4,520 $4,714 Total $33,123 $33,762 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,819 $17,143 $30,001 - $48k $17,924 $18,270 $48,001 - $75k $18,494 $18,851 $75,001 - $110k $21,159 $21,567 $110,001+ $21,757 $22,177
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Converse College
Spartanburg Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $18,340 $19,890 Room and Board $10,930 $11,260 Books $1,350 $1,350 Other Expenses $3,610 $3,610 Total $34,230 $36,110 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $2,711 $2,860 $30,001 - $48k $14,852 $15,668 $48,001 - $75k $12,221 $12,892 $75,001 - $110k $17,196 $18,140 $110,001+ $17,508 $18,470 -
Erskine College
Due West Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $36,150 $36,510 Room and Board $11,350 $11,465 Books $2,100 $2,100 Other Expenses $3,900 $3,900 Total $53,500 $53,975 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $31,831 $32,114 $30,001 - $48k $29,574 $29,837 $48,001 - $75k $30,041 $30,308 $75,001 - $110k $31,350 $31,628 $110,001+ $34,807 $35,116 -
Furman University
Greenville Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $49,532 $50,844 Room and Board $12,712 $13,034 Books $810 $810 Other Expenses $1,970 $1,938 Total $65,024 $66,626 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,400 $20,903 $30,001 - $48k $21,335 $21,861 $48,001 - $75k $22,225 $22,773 $75,001 - $110k $30,872 $31,633 $110,001+ $40,315 $41,308 -
Limestone College
Gaffney Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $25,025 $26,300 Room and Board $8,808 $9,900 Books $2,304 $2,304 Other Expenses $4,864 $4,232 Total $41,001 $42,736 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $22,236 $23,177 $30,001 - $48k $19,905 $20,747 $48,001 - $75k $23,620 $24,620 $75,001 - $110k $24,362 $25,393 $110,001+ $24,286 $25,314 -
Newberry College
Newberry Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $26,424 $27,400 Room and Board $10,666 $11,000 Books $756 $772 Other Expenses $3,353 $3,116 Total $41,199 $42,288 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,774 $17,217 $30,001 - $48k $19,093 $19,598 $48,001 - $75k $19,395 $19,908 $75,001 - $110k $22,515 $23,110 $110,001+ $23,921 $24,553 -
North Greenville University
Tigerville Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $19,750 $21,120 Room and Board $10,240 $10,240 Books $2,244 $2,244 Other Expenses $4,448 $4,966 Total $36,682 $38,570 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $21,771 $22,892 $30,001 - $48k $20,265 $21,308 $48,001 - $75k $22,032 $23,166 $75,001 - $110k $22,408 $23,561 $110,001+ $23,135 $24,326 -
Presbyterian College
Clinton Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $38,660 $39,460 Room and Board $10,480 $10,680 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $2,570 $2,570 Total $52,910 $53,910 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,599 $15,894 $30,001 - $48k $15,282 $15,571 $48,001 - $75k $18,690 $19,043 $75,001 - $110k $21,049 $21,447 $110,001+ $24,800 $25,269 -
Voorhees College
Denmark Year 2018-19 2019-20 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 $16,281 $16,281 $30,001 - $48k $16,956 $16,956 $48,001 - $75k $18,908 $18,908 $75,001 - $110k $25,250 $25,250 $110,001+ $26,262 $26,262 -
Wofford College
Spartanburg Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $43,985 $45,710 Room and Board $12,685 $13,225 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $2,493 $2,543 Total $60,363 $62,678 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,618 $15,179 $30,001 - $48k $17,668 $18,346 $48,001 - $75k $24,109 $25,034 $75,001 - $110k $28,717 $29,818 $110,001+ $31,319 $32,520
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