Location: Columbia, SC•In-State Tuition: $12,688•Out-of-State Tuition: $34,934•Admission Rate: 61%•Avg SAT: 1297
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$35,275
Est. from SC median (4 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$18,903
Est. from SC median (4 programs)

Analysis

Similar business associate programs in South Carolina suggest first-year earnings around $35,275 paired with roughly $19,000 in debt—a ratio of about 0.54 that sits well below the concerning 1.0 threshold. That's manageable territory, though the earnings lag behind what technical colleges like Horry-Georgetown and York Tech typically deliver for the same credential. Given USC-Columbia's four-year flagship status and higher admission selectivity (SAT scores averaging nearly 1300), you'd expect stronger outcomes than programs at open-access institutions.

The real question is why pursue an associate degree at a research university when South Carolina's technical college system produces comparable or better results at likely lower cost. Strayer's business associate graduates in the state see earnings exceeding $44,000—nearly $9,000 more than what peer programs suggest for this pathway. The estimated debt here is also about $7,000 less than the state median for business associate programs, which helps, but it doesn't overcome the earnings gap.

If your child is already enrolled at USC-Columbia and wants business experience before continuing to a bachelor's, this could work as a stepping stone. But as a standalone credential, the technical colleges offer better value for this specific degree level, with similar or superior earning potential and the practical, employer-focused training that associate programs typically emphasize.

Where University of South Carolina-Columbia Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business/commerce associates's programs nationally

University of South Carolina-Columbia (estimated ±10%)Other business/commerce programs

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

Compare to Similar Programs in South Carolina

Business/Commerce associates's programs at peer institutions in South Carolina (16 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbia$12,688$35,275*—$18,903*—
Strayer University-South CarolinaGreenville$13,920$44,154*$47,516$32,810*0.74
Horry-Georgetown Technical CollegeConway$4,468$36,679*$26,486$26,100*0.71
York Technical CollegeRock Hill$5,512$33,870*—$11,000*0.32
Piedmont Technical CollegeGreenwood$4,775$33,486*$36,670$26,547*0.79
National Median—$36,591*—$13,437*0.37
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business/commerce graduates

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial Production Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Quality Control Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate quality assurance programs. Formulate quality control policies and control quality of laboratory and production efforts.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geothermal Production Managers

Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels Production Managers

Manage biofuels production and plant operations. Collect and process information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biomass Power Plant Managers

Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Hydroelectric Production Managers

Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Construction Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

$106,980/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
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 University of South Carolina-Columbia, approximately 19% 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 4 similar programs in SC. Actual outcomes may vary.