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South Carolina State University

#244 in US ranking Orangeburg, SC
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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South Carolina State University award
South Carolina State University award

Cost

Cost / year
$29,846
Tuition & fees
$11,060
Avg. aid
$12,189
Receiving aid
96%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
83%
Avg. SAT
925
Avg. ACT
17

Outcomes

Graduation rate
37%
Median salary
$35,260
1 yr after graduation

What are the graduation rates for students at South Carolina State University?

South Carolina State's reported six-year graduation rate is 37%, while its reported four-year rate is 21%. These measures follow a defined cohort of first-time, full-time students; they do not describe every transfer, part-time, or returning student.

The reported first-year retention rate is 56%, meaning that measure tracks the share of first-time students who returned the following fall. Graduation and retention figures answer different questions: a student may leave, return later, or complete a degree outside the measurement window. These rates are useful for evaluating the likelihood of finishing on a planned timetable, but they do not establish why an individual student stayed or left.

Because additional semesters can add tuition and living expenses, applicants may want to examine the course sequence for their major, ask how often required classes are offered, and identify advising or academic-support services they would use early.

What is the earning potential for graduates at South Carolina State University?

College Scorecard field-of-study figures describe reported earnings about one year after completing a program, not a salary promised to every graduate. They are best used as limited, program-specific indicators rather than as forecasts for an individual student.

Among the reported figures, the median for mechanical engineering-related technologies was $41,941. The corresponding figure for business administration was $29,870, while psychology was $24,764. These are different fields with different employment and further-study patterns; comparing the figures alone would not establish which degree offers a better long-term return.

Scorecard earnings measures reflect the graduates and earnings records included under its federal reporting rules. They do not capture every graduate's situation and can be affected by employment status, location, additional education, and the size of a program's reporting group. Students should consider these figures alongside likely borrowing, graduation time, licensure needs, and longer-term career paths.

South Carolina State University Graduation Rate

Avg. graduation
37%
4-year graduation
21%
6-year graduation
37%

South Carolina State University Retention and Employment

First-year retention, full-time students
56%
First-year retention, part-time students
6%
Employed 1 year after graduation
96%

South Carolina State University Median Alumni Salary Over Time

1 year after graduation
$35,260
4 years after graduation
$46,691
5 years after graduation
$44,422
7 years after graduation
$49,851
10 years after starting college
$41,531

Alumni Salary for South Carolina State University Degrees

Degrees

Avg. salary

Biology, General

$20,692

Business Administration, Management and Operations

$29,870

Communication and Media Studies

$17,125

Criminal Justice and Corrections

$28,987

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General

$17,756

Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians

$41,941

Psychology, General

$24,764

Social Work

$26,194

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

$21,752

South Carolina State University Graduations Per Degree

BACHELOR’S Degree

Women Men Total

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

29736

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

211536

Education

81624

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

20323

Engineering/Engineering-related Technologies/Technicians

41620

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services

12618

Health Professions and Related Programs

17118

Psychology

16117

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

11415

Engineering

4812

MASTER’S Degree

Women Men Total

Health Professions and Related Programs

23528

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

6713

Education

628

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

213

DOCTOR’S Degree

Women Men Total

Education

171027

Data last updated on November 2, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.