Coker University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Hartsville, South Carolina. It enrolls 840 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
45/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes17
Value19
Affordability41
Selectivity12
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 94%, Coker University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
94%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Coker University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
33.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Coker University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $20,286 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,286
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
26%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
42%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$33,416
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,114
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,323
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,600
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,600
Total Cost of Attendance
$45,805
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$16,789
$30,001 – $48,000
$15,138
$48,001 – $75,000
$18,227
$75,001 – $110,000
$24,421
Over $110,000
$24,160
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,75010%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$26,000Medianpercentile
$30,25075%percentile
$43,75090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $16,000
↓ $10,000
No Pell $12,500
↓ $13,500
Dependent students $12,342
↓ $13,658
Independent students $23,052
↓ $2,948
Female students $17,250
↓ $8,750
Male students $12,000
↓ $14,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($26,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
45% of full-time students who enrolled at Coker University graduate within six years, and 66% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
45%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
66%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Coker University earn a median of $40,117 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$40,117
Earning > $25K
66%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$31,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$48,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$30,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$37,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$46,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $16,600, about 34% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
22.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 64% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Coker University is home to 840 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 38% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
840
Part-Time
4%
First-Generation
38%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 48.0%403
Black 19.5%164
Other 8.9%75
International 7.4%62
Asian 1.1%9
Hispanic 0.5%4
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Coker University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantHartsville, South Carolina
Housing
Strongly residential603 beds for 840 students
Adult Learners
12%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Coker University offers
a varied set of programs:
26 distinct programs across
13 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Coker University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$62M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$58,993
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
64 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
15
23%
$78,125
Associate Professors
17
27%
$55,878
Assistant Professors
32
50%
$51,679
Pros & Cons of Coker University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Coker University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, Coker University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Coker University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Coker University.
Is Coker University hard to get into?
Coker University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 94%.
What is the acceptance rate at Coker University?
Coker University has an acceptance rate of 94%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Coker University cost?
The average net price after aid at Coker University is $20,286 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Coker University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $40,117 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,286 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Coker University known for?
Coker University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Biology, Kinesiology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Coker University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Coker University are $40,117, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Coker University accredited?
Yes. Coker University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Coker University?
Coker University enrolls 840 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Coker University?
Coker University graduates 45% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Coker University a public or private college?
Coker University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Coker University located?
Coker University is located in Hartsville, South Carolina.
What programs does Coker University offer?
Coker University offers 26 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Biology, Kinesiology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Coker University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Coker University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in South Carolina
Other colleges in South Carolina share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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