Limestone University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who want small classes and close faculty access. graduation rate is below 40%; median debt is moderately high. a private nonprofit school with 1,482 students.
About This School
Limestone University is a private nonprofit institution located in Gaffney, South Carolina with approximately 1,482 undergraduate students enrolled. Limestone University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 97%. The average net price after financial aid is $19,588 per year. The graduation rate is 35%, and the typical graduate earns $41,600 within 10 years of enrollment.
Limestone University, formerly Limestone College, was a private Christian university in Gaffney, South Carolina, United States. Established in 1845 by Thomas Curtis, a scholar born and educated in England, Limestone was the first women's college in South Carolina and one of the first in the nation. It was the third-oldest private college in South Carolina. Ten buildings on the campus, as well as the Limestone Springs and limestone quarry itself, are on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to its traditional campus in Gaffney, the university provided online degrees and previously had physical locations in Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, and Florence.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: while the $20,415 average net price and relatively low $18,750 median debt are genuinely manageable, a 28% graduation rate and 64% freshman retention rate suggest that most students who start here don't finish — and that's a serious red flag worth pressing the school to explain. Median earnings of $41,600 a decade out are modest, so if you do enroll, having a clear plan to stay on track matters enormously. Worth considering only if Limestone's small-campus environment, athletic programs, or specific majors meet a real need that better-resourced options can't — but go in with eyes open.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
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: 21% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
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 (1,482 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in South Carolina
University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia, SC · Public
Clemson University
Clemson, SC · Public
College of Charleston
Charleston, SC · Public
Trident Technical College
Charleston, SC · Public
Coastal Carolina University
Conway, SC · Public
Greenville Technical College
Greenville, SC · Public
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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