South University-Columbia is a private for-profit institution offering graduate degrees based in Columbia, South Carolina. It enrolls 450 students (a very small, intimate 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 CalendarQuarter
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 Open / Online). 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
44/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes17
Value11
Affordability46
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for South University-Columbia.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending South University-Columbia 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 $27,693 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private for-profit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$27,693
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
58%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
65%
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
$18,145
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,439
Books & Supplies
$540
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$8,404
Total Cost of Attendance
$35,322
Application fee: $75 (one-time, due at submission)
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
$26,588
$30,001 – $48,000
$30,474
$48,001 – $75,000
$32,022
$75,001 – $110,000
$29,386
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.
$2,50110%percentile
$4,75025%percentile
$26,123Medianpercentile
$22,54275%percentile
$37,50090%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 $13,324
↓ $12,799
No Pell $12,500
↓ $13,623
Dependent students $13,668
↓ $12,455
Independent students $12,990
↓ $13,133
Female students $13,624
↓ $12,499
Male students $10,834
↓ $15,289
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($26,123), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
18% of full-time students who enrolled at South University-Columbia graduate within six years, and 39% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
18%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
39%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered South University-Columbia earn a median of $34,421 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$34,421
Earning > $25K
57%
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
$38,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$32,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$42,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$61,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $8,400, about 18% 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 ↑
22.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 61% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
South University-Columbia is home to 450 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 47% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
450
Part-Time
26%
First-Generation
47%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 66.9%301
White 12.9%58
Other 5.1%23
Hispanic 2.2%10
International 1.1%5
Asian 0.9%4
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at South University-Columbia. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbColumbia, South Carolina
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
76%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
Designation
Branch campus
What You Can Study
South University-Columbia offers
a varied set of programs:
14 distinct programs across
4 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 South University-Columbia is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$59,035
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
12 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
1
8%
$54,640
Assistant Professors
6
50%
$62,171
Instructors
5
42%
$56,150
Pros & Cons of South University-Columbia
A quick at-a-glance summary of how South University-Columbia tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Best for:
Based on the data, South University-Columbia is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about South University-Columbia
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about South University-Columbia.
How much does South University-Columbia cost?
The average net price after aid at South University-Columbia is $27,693 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is South University-Columbia worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $34,421 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $27,693 per year. That's roughly 1.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is South University-Columbia known for?
South University-Columbia is best known for its programs in Nursing, Mental Health Services, Medical Assisting. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do South University-Columbia graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering South University-Columbia are $34,421, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is South University-Columbia accredited?
Yes. South University-Columbia is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend South University-Columbia?
South University-Columbia enrolls 450 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at South University-Columbia?
South University-Columbia graduates 18% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is South University-Columbia a public or private college?
South University-Columbia is a Private For-Profit institution.
Where is South University-Columbia located?
South University-Columbia is located in Columbia, South Carolina.
What programs does South University-Columbia offer?
South University-Columbia offers 14 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Mental Health Services, Medical Assisting.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at South University-Columbia?
The student-to-faculty ratio at South University-Columbia is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in South Carolina
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