Information Science/Studies at Coastal Carolina University

The numbers here tell a puzzling story, but the tiny sample size means you're looking at statistical noise more than a reliable pattern. With fewer than 30 graduates tracked, that first-year figure of $31,322 could easily reflect just a handful of students who took part-time work or internships rather than full-time positions. By year four, those same graduates are earning $75,165—actually exceeding what Clemson grads make and ranking this program among South Carolina's top performers if the data holds.

Here's the problem: when you're dealing with such small numbers, you can't know if future graduates will see similar outcomes. This program ranks in just the 10th percentile statewide based on that anomalous first-year figure, yet the four-year earnings would place it second in the state. The $20,336 in debt is reasonable—lower than both state and national medians—but the value proposition depends entirely on whether the four-year earnings reflect genuine program strength or just a few lucky graduates.

If your child is considering this program, treat it as a high-risk bet. The debt load won't be crushing, but you're essentially wagering on outcomes extrapolated from a handful of data points. Unless you have specific evidence that the program has grown and stabilized since this cohort graduated, safer bets exist at established programs like College of Charleston or USC-Upstate, where larger samples provide more confidence in projected outcomes.