Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods at University of South Carolina-Columbia

Starting at nearly $69,000 just one year after graduation, University of South Carolina-Columbia's Management Sciences program outperforms 68% of similar programs nationwide—a solid advantage worth roughly $7,000 more annually than the typical graduate in this field. The debt load of $22,922 is essentially on par with national norms, creating a comfortable 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio that means graduates can realistically pay off their loans within a year or two of focused repayment.

The 18% earnings growth to $81,000 by year four suggests strong career trajectory, and this is a well-established program with data from over 100 graduates. Within South Carolina, where only five schools offer this program, USC sits at the 60th percentile—middle of the pack in-state, but the absolute dollar figures matter more than the ranking when you're starting near $70,000. For context, this is a fairly moderate admission rate school (61%) delivering above-average outcomes in a field that combines business analytics, operations research, and data-driven decision making.

The straightforward value proposition here: your child would graduate with manageable debt and immediate access to well-paying careers in analytics, supply chain management, or business intelligence. This program delivers what you'd want from a flagship state university—strong earnings from day one without excessive borrowing.