Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at University of South Carolina-Upstate

USC Upstate's liberal arts program occupies an interesting middle ground: essentially matching national earnings while outperforming most South Carolina alternatives. With first-year earnings of $36,241, graduates land right at the national median but notably above the $29,506 state median—ranking in the 60th percentile among South Carolina liberal arts programs. That positioning matters for in-state students paying South Carolina tuition rates.

The debt picture works in students' favor here. At $30,000, borrowing sits below the 25th percentile nationally (meaning 75% of comparable programs saddle graduates with more debt), while earnings remain competitive. The 0.83 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than one year's salary—manageable for a liberal arts degree. Growth to $38,742 by year four is modest but steady, avoiding the earnings drops seen at many humanities programs.

For families weighing USC Upstate against other South Carolina options, this program delivers better financial outcomes than most liberal arts programs in the state, including the state's flagship. The 45% Pell Grant rate suggests the school serves many first-generation students successfully. If your child is drawn to liberal arts and wants to stay in South Carolina, this represents a relatively safe bet—competitive earnings with below-average debt burden.