Location: Conway, SC•In-State Tuition: $11,640•Out-of-State Tuition: $29,628•Admission Rate: 80%•Avg SAT: 1128
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$40,394
Est. from SC median (9 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$27,000
Est. from SC median (5 programs)

Analysis

Teaching positions in South Carolina pay less than the national average, and the estimated earnings here reflect that reality. Similar subject-area teacher preparation programs across the state suggest first-year earnings around $40,400, which falls about $2,700 below what teachers in these specialties earn nationally. The $27,000 in estimated debt—based on comparable programs at Coastal Carolina—translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67, which is manageable but offers little cushion given teacher salaries.

What complicates the picture is the actual four-year earnings data: $38,353, which is lower than the estimated first-year figure. This could reflect career interruptions, part-time work, or teachers leaving the field, patterns common in education. Even among South Carolina's top programs for subject-area teaching, first-year earnings cluster tightly between $40,400 and $43,600, suggesting limited upside regardless of where you train.

For families committed to teaching in South Carolina, these estimated figures put Coastal Carolina squarely in the middle of what to expect—reasonable debt for modest but stable earnings. Just understand that the financial return depends entirely on staying in education, where salaries remain compressed across the state.

Where Coastal Carolina University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas bachelors's programs nationally

Coastal Carolina University (estimated ±10%)Other teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Coastal Carolina University—$38,353—
Clemson University$40,394$45,406+12%
University of South Carolina-Columbia$40,596$38,368-5%
North Greenville University$43,644$38,019-13%
Anderson University$40,445$36,649-9%

Compare to Similar Programs in South Carolina

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas bachelors's programs at peer institutions in South Carolina (27 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Coastal Carolina UniversityConway$11,640$40,394*$38,353$27,000*—
North Greenville UniversityTigerville$24,650$43,644*$38,019$19,271*0.44
Charleston Southern UniversityCharleston$31,030$40,612*—$27,323*0.67
University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbia$12,688$40,596*$38,368$23,780*0.59
Anderson UniversityAnderson$33,580$40,445*$36,649$27,000*0.67
Clemson UniversityClemson$15,554$40,394*$45,406$23,250*0.58
National Median—$43,082*—$26,221*0.61
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas graduates

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to mathematical concepts, statistics, and actuarial science and to the application of original and standardized mathematical techniques in solving specific problems and situations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in the agricultural sciences. Includes teachers of agronomy, dairy sciences, fisheries management, horticultural sciences, poultry sciences, range management, and agricultural soil conservation. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in biological sciences. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in forestry and conservation science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in the physical sciences, except chemistry and physics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the chemical and physical properties and compositional changes of substances. Work may include providing instruction in the methods of qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in environmental science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Geography Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in geography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in psychology, such as child, clinical, and developmental psychology, and psychological counseling. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Coastal Carolina University, approximately 27% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 9 similar programs in SC. Actual outcomes may vary.