Location: Columbia, SC•In-State Tuition: $12,688•Out-of-State Tuition: $34,934•Admission Rate: 61%•Avg SAT: 1297
Median Earnings (1yr)
$68,597
68th percentile
60th percentile in South Carolina
Median Debt
$25,250
1% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.37 ManageableSample: 251 graduates

Analysis

USC-Columbia's computer science program places graduates in solid-paying tech jobs right out of the gate, with starting salaries around $69,000 that grow to over $78,000 within four years. That 14% earnings trajectory suggests graduates are gaining traction in their careers, and the debt load of about $25,000 means you're borrowing roughly what graduates earn in their first four months—a manageable equation. The program ranks in the 68th percentile nationally and 60th percentile within South Carolina, putting it ahead of most competitors but trailing flagships like Clemson.

The admission rate of 61% means this isn't an ultra-selective program, yet it delivers outcomes that beat the national median by more than $7,000 annually. Within South Carolina, USC sits in the middle tier—behind Clemson and The Citadel but ahead of schools like Winthrop. For in-state students paying state tuition, this represents a straightforward value: you're getting above-average preparation for the tech workforce without gambling on unproven programs or taking on crushing debt.

The key advantage here is stability. You're not chasing the highest possible salary, but you're also avoiding the bottom half of outcomes while keeping debt reasonable. For families looking at South Carolina options, USC offers a reliable path into tech careers with room for growth and minimal financial risk.

Where University of South Carolina-Columbia Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all computer and information sciences bachelors's programs nationally

University of South Carolina-ColumbiaOther computer and information sciences programs

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

Earnings Distribution

How University of South Carolina-Columbia graduates compare to all programs nationally

University of South Carolina-Columbia earns $69k — 68th percentile among computer and information sciences bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
University of South Carolina-Columbia$68,597$78,153+14%
Clemson University$73,374$100,006+36%
College of Charleston$67,438$94,025+39%
Strayer University-South Carolina$67,315$77,481+15%
Coastal Carolina University$38,602$63,373+64%

Compare to Similar Programs in South Carolina

Computer and Information Sciences bachelors's programs at peer institutions in South Carolina (25 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbia$12,688$68,597$78,153$25,2500.37
Clemson UniversityClemson$15,554$73,374$100,006$22,4980.31
Citadel Military College of South CarolinaCharleston$12,570$71,213—$21,3750.30
College of CharlestonCharleston$12,978$67,438$94,025$25,0000.37
Strayer University-South CarolinaGreenville$13,920$67,315$77,481$50,7370.75
Winthrop UniversityRock Hill$15,956$64,302———
National Median—$61,322—$25,0000.41

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with computer and information sciences graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer and Information Research Scientists

Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.

$140,910/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Software Developers

Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

$131,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. Document software and application defects using a bug tracking system and report defects to software or web developers. Create and maintain databases of known defects. May participate in software design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, operational characteristics, product designs, and schedules.

$131,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer Network Architects

Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning, including analysis of capacity needs for network infrastructures. May also design network and computer security measures. May research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software.

$130,390/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Telecommunications Engineering Specialists

Design or configure wired, wireless, and satellite communications systems for voice, video, and data services. Supervise installation, service, and maintenance.

$130,390/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Information Security Analysts

Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

$124,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Administrators

Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. Identify, investigate, and resolve database performance issues, database capacity, and database scalability. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Architects

Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Warehousing Specialists

Design, model, or implement corporate data warehousing activities. Program and configure warehouses of database information and provide support to warehouse users.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/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.

Sample Size: Based on 251 graduates with reported earnings and 246 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.