Benedict College
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who want small classes and close faculty access. graduation rate is below 25% — most students don't finish here; median debt is moderately high. 62% of students receive Pell Grants — strong access mission.
About This School
Benedict College is a private nonprofit institution located in Columbia, South Carolina with approximately 1,536 undergraduate students enrolled. Benedict College has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 96%. The average net price after financial aid is $18,250 per year. The graduation rate is 24%, and the typical graduate earns $27,300 within 10 years of enrollment.
Benedict College is a private historically black college in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1870 by northern Baptists, it was originally a teachers' college. It has since expanded to offer majors in many disciplines across the liberal arts. The campus includes buildings in the Benedict College Historic District, a historic area listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The numbers here tell a mixed story — as a historically Black institution with roots going back to 1870, Benedict offers a meaningful community and an affordable price point (median debt of just $16,000), but a 21% graduation rate means most students who start here don't finish, which is a serious concern. Median earnings of $27,300 a decade after enrollment are modest, so you'll want to think carefully about your specific major and career plan before committing. Worth considering if you're drawn to the HBCU experience and Columbia, SC, but visit campus, talk to current students, and go in with a clear strategy for staying on track to graduate.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 10% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology, General | 53 | $36,966 | $57,214 | −$20,248 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 38 | $41,811 | $68,257 | −$26,446 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 28 | $39,337 | $55,378 | −$16,041 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 21 | $37,638 | $56,359 | −$18,721 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 1 | $34,129 | $48,568 | −$14,439 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Worth scrutinizing. Median earnings relative to debt are tight.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (1,536 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in South Carolina
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Gaffney, SC · Private nonprofit
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Claflin University
Orangeburg, SC · Private nonprofit
Wofford College
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North Greenville University
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Bob Jones University
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See How Colleges Compare
Benedict College is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Benedict College?
Benedict College has an acceptance rate of 96%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Benedict College hard to get into?
Not especially. Benedict College has an acceptance rate of 96%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Benedict College cost?
The average net price at Benedict College is about $18,250 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Benedict College?
Benedict College has a graduation rate of 24%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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