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Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2023
Questions & Answers
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 2020-21 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2023.
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.
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 $20,158 and the average private school would be $23,167. You can also get information on specific South Carolina schools in the chart above or the tables below.
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.
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.
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.
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 (2020-21) | |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $12,688 |
| Room and Board | $10,962 |
| Books | $1,085 |
| Other Expenses | $4,386 |
| Total | $29,121 |
Total Cost:
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular institution for the 2020-21 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2023. 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 $27,750 | SC Private $44,703 |
| $0 - $30k | $12,999 | $17,556 |
| $30,001 – $48k | $14,600 | $19,106 |
| $48,001 – $75k | $17,737 | $21,186 |
| $75,001 – $110k | $20,158 | $23,167 |
| $110,001+ | $21,121 | $26,660 |
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 $4,000-$6,000 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
-
College of Charleston
Charleston Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $12,978 $12,978 Room and Board $12,959 $12,959 Books $1,262 $1,262 Other Expenses $3,954 $3,954 Total $31,153 $31,153 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,945 $12,945 $30,001 - $48k $14,215 $14,215 $48,001 - $75k $17,784 $17,784 $75,001 - $110k $21,464 $21,464 $110,001+ $23,932 $23,932 -
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Charleston Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $12,620 $12,570 Room and Board $7,332 $7,593 Books $8,144 $8,144 Other Expenses $2,304 $2,383 Total $30,400 $30,690 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,987 $14,120 $30,001 - $48k $14,807 $14,948 $48,001 - $75k $20,265 $20,458 $75,001 - $110k $22,089 $22,300 $110,001+ $21,809 $22,017 -
Clemson University
Clemson Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $15,558 $15,558 Room and Board $11,850 $12,234 Books $1,188 $1,248 Other Expenses $4,284 $5,124 Total $32,880 $34,164 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,872 $14,414 $30,001 - $48k $15,717 $16,331 $48,001 - $75k $20,834 $21,648 $75,001 - $110k $24,773 $25,740 $110,001+ $25,868 $26,878 -
Francis Marion University
Florence Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $11,160 $11,160 Room and Board $8,230 $8,230 Books $1,138 $1,245 Other Expenses $3,716 $3,716 Total $24,244 $24,351 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,877 $10,925 $30,001 - $48k $11,809 $11,861 $48,001 - $75k $14,985 $15,051 $75,001 - $110k $16,612 $16,685 $110,001+ $17,437 $17,514 -
Lander University
Greenwood Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $11,700 $11,700 Room and Board $10,570 $10,650 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $2,770 $2,770 Total $26,240 $26,320 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,315 $14,359 $30,001 - $48k $15,666 $15,714 $48,001 - $75k $16,750 $16,801 $75,001 - $110k $18,919 $18,977 $110,001+ $19,227 $19,286 -
University of South Carolina-Aiken
Aiken Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $10,760 $10,760 Room and Board $7,946 $8,202 Books $1,240 $1,240 Other Expenses $2,835 $2,835 Total $22,781 $23,037 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,551 $8,647 $30,001 - $48k $10,420 $10,537 $48,001 - $75k $14,389 $14,551 $75,001 - $110k $15,884 $16,062 $110,001+ $16,404 $16,588
-
University of South Carolina-Beaufort
Bluffton Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $10,730 $10,730 Room and Board $8,440 $8,440 Books $1,266 $1,266 Other Expenses $4,055 $4,055 Total $24,491 $24,491 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,856 $11,856 $30,001 - $48k $13,815 $13,815 $48,001 - $75k $17,086 $17,086 $75,001 - $110k $18,548 $18,548 $110,001+ $18,998 $18,998 -
University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $12,688 $12,688 Room and Board $10,962 $10,990 Books $1,085 $1,085 Other Expenses $4,386 $4,386 Total $29,121 $29,149 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,610 $12,622 $30,001 - $48k $16,370 $16,386 $48,001 - $75k $19,976 $19,995 $75,001 - $110k $22,375 $22,397 $110,001+ $24,716 $24,740 -
Coastal Carolina University
Conway Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $11,640 $11,640 Room and Board $9,890 $10,032 Books $1,098 $1,126 Other Expenses $3,548 $3,882 Total $26,176 $26,680 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,803 $11,011 $30,001 - $48k $12,458 $12,698 $48,001 - $75k $15,030 $15,319 $75,001 - $110k $17,713 $18,054 $110,001+ $19,012 $19,378 -
South Carolina State University
Orangeburg Year 2020-21 2021-22 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 $19,718 $19,718 $30,001 - $48k $21,339 $21,339 $48,001 - $75k $21,580 $21,580 $75,001 - $110k $25,748 $25,748 $110,001+ $26,035 $26,035 -
University of South Carolina-Upstate
Spartanburg Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $11,583 $11,583 Room and Board $8,598 $9,328 Books $1,600 $1,600 Other Expenses $3,637 $3,637 Total $25,418 $26,148 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,068 $12,415 $30,001 - $48k $12,810 $13,178 $48,001 - $75k $16,281 $16,749 $75,001 - $110k $18,574 $19,107 $110,001+ $19,236 $19,788 -
Winthrop University
Rock Hill Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $15,836 $15,846 Room and Board $9,810 $10,200 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,184 $3,260 Total $30,030 $30,506 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,387 $14,615 $30,001 - $48k $15,779 $16,029 $48,001 - $75k $17,881 $18,164 $75,001 - $110k $19,201 $19,505 $110,001+ $20,783 $21,112
Private SC Schools Cost Breakdown
-
Allen University
Columbia Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $13,340 $13,340 Room and Board $7,894 $7,894 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,000 $2,000 Total $24,234 $24,234 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,849 $12,849 $30,001 - $48k $12,675 $12,675 $48,001 - $75k $14,108 $14,108 $75,001 - $110k $17,094 $17,094 $110,001+ $16,052 $16,052 -
Anderson University
Anderson Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $29,980 $30,720 Room and Board $10,640 $10,900 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,796 $3,864 Total $45,616 $46,684 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,209 $16,588 $30,001 - $48k $15,800 $16,170 $48,001 - $75k $20,616 $21,099 $75,001 - $110k $22,148 $22,667 $110,001+ $23,837 $24,395 -
Charleston Southern
Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $28,100 $28,930 Room and Board $10,400 $11,032 Books $0 $0 Other Expenses $4,460 $4,460 Total $42,960 $44,422 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,173 $17,757 $30,001 - $48k $15,225 $15,743 $48,001 - $75k $14,813 $15,317 $75,001 - $110k $18,923 $19,567 $110,001+ $19,214 $19,868 -
Benedict College
Columbia Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $17,200 $17,200 Room and Board $6,600 $6,600 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,202 $5,200 Total $27,002 $30,000 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,430 $13,810 $30,001 - $48k $10,562 $11,735 $48,001 - $75k $10,772 $11,968 $75,001 - $110k $14,861 $16,511 $110,001+ $20,777 $23,084 -
Claflin University
Orangeburg Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $17,046 $17,046 Room and Board $9,480 $9,480 Books $1,900 $1,900 Other Expenses $5,250 $5,250 Total $33,676 $33,676 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,180 $19,180 $30,001 - $48k $19,286 $19,286 $48,001 - $75k $22,590 $22,590 $75,001 - $110k $24,546 $24,546 $110,001+ $25,737 $25,737 -
Coker College
Hartsville Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $31,524 $31,524 Room and Board $9,892 $9,892 Books $2,000 $2,000 Other Expenses $1,448 $1,448 Total $44,864 $44,864 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,141 $14,141 $30,001 - $48k $15,312 $15,312 $48,001 - $75k $16,890 $16,890 $75,001 - $110k $21,191 $21,191 $110,001+ $33,697 $33,697 -
Columbia International University
Columbia Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $24,650 $25,590 Room and Board $8,950 $8,950 Books $600 $600 Other Expenses $3,710 $3,710 Total $37,910 $38,850 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,768 $21,283 $30,001 - $48k $16,688 $17,102 $48,001 - $75k $18,973 $19,443 $75,001 - $110k $19,223 $19,700 $110,001+ $24,846 $25,462 -
Columbia College
Columbia Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $20,690 $20,880 Room and Board $8,300 $8,320 Books $1,268 $1,240 Other Expenses $5,100 $5,358 Total $35,358 $35,798 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,935 $18,158 $30,001 - $48k $23,702 $23,997 $48,001 - $75k $23,406 $23,697 $75,001 - $110k $20,867 $21,127 $110,001+ $25,507 $25,824
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Converse College
Spartanburg Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $20,500 $19,850 Room and Board $11,600 $11,948 Books $1,500 $1,350 Other Expenses $3,610 $3,700 Total $37,210 $36,848 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,305 $14,166 $30,001 - $48k $15,054 $14,908 $48,001 - $75k $21,436 $21,227 $75,001 - $110k $19,071 $18,885 $110,001+ $19,457 $19,268 -
Erskine College
Due West Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $36,510 $36,510 Room and Board $11,465 $11,465 Books $2,100 $2,100 Other Expenses $3,900 $3,900 Total $53,975 $53,975 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $30,426 $30,426 $30,001 - $48k $39,560 $39,560 $48,001 - $75k $41,630 $41,630 $75,001 - $110k $42,008 $42,008 $110,001+ $45,394 $45,394 -
Furman University
Greenville Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $52,092 $53,372 Room and Board $13,362 $13,698 Books $810 $810 Other Expenses $1,970 $2,000 Total $68,234 $69,880 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $9,934 $10,174 $30,001 - $48k $18,331 $18,773 $48,001 - $75k $20,509 $21,004 $75,001 - $110k $25,643 $26,262 $110,001+ $34,641 $35,477 -
Limestone College
Gaffney Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $26,300 $26,300 Room and Board $9,900 $10,645 Books $2,304 $2,304 Other Expenses $4,232 $4,232 Total $42,736 $43,481 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,484 $20,841 $30,001 - $48k $18,121 $18,437 $48,001 - $75k $21,397 $21,770 $75,001 - $110k $24,997 $25,433 $110,001+ $26,069 $26,523 -
Newberry College
Newberry Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $28,150 $28,250 Room and Board $11,300 $11,700 Books $850 $900 Other Expenses $3,606 $2,982 Total $43,906 $43,832 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,226 $15,200 $30,001 - $48k $15,827 $15,800 $48,001 - $75k $19,819 $19,786 $75,001 - $110k $20,879 $20,844 $110,001+ $23,545 $23,505 -
North Greenville University
Tigerville Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $22,050 $22,470 Room and Board $10,500 $10,640 Books $2,240 $2,240 Other Expenses $4,970 $4,970 Total $39,760 $40,320 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,791 $17,027 $30,001 - $48k $18,684 $18,947 $48,001 - $75k $19,103 $19,372 $75,001 - $110k $20,868 $21,162 $110,001+ $21,944 $22,253 -
Presbyterian College
Clinton Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $40,260 $41,080 Room and Board $10,900 $11,100 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $2,570 $2,570 Total $54,930 $55,950 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,781 $20,148 $30,001 - $48k $18,235 $18,574 $48,001 - $75k $19,331 $19,690 $75,001 - $110k $20,238 $20,614 $110,001+ $26,054 $26,538 -
Voorhees College
Denmark Year 2020-21 2021-22 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 $14,207 $14,207 $30,001 - $48k $10,269 $10,269 $48,001 - $75k $17,174 $17,174 $75,001 - $110k $0 $0 $110,001+ $0 $0 -
Wofford College
Spartanburg Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $47,650 $49,550 Room and Board $13,790 $14,345 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $2,543 $2,543 Total $65,183 $67,638 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $18,141 $18,824 $30,001 - $48k $24,088 $24,995 $48,001 - $75k $23,166 $24,039 $75,001 - $110k $29,807 $30,930 $110,001+ $33,901 $35,178
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