Real Estate at University of South Carolina - Columbia
SC · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 52.15
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Real Estate degree from University of South Carolina - Columbia earn a median salary of $69,779 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in SC, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $73,297. The degree typically pays for itself in 6.5 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$49,399
Typical Career
$69,779
Top Performers
$97,751
Estimated break-even: 6.5 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$465
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,815. Most students can comfortably afford about a $465 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.8x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.9x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in South Carolina buys what costs $0.95 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$73,297
Nominal: $69,779 in South Carolina (COL 95.2% of national avg) · 5% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $35,233 | $46,207 | $60,508 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $49,399 | $69,779 | $97,751 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $73,442 | $100,117 | $139,384 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $69,779 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in SC, which has a cost-of-living index of 95.2% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $69,779 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9520)
= $73,297 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries that Real Estate graduates enter include Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (15.0%), Health Care & Social Assistance (14.2%), and Educational Services (13.6%). With an estimated break-even point of approximately 6.5 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment appears favorable for students pursuing this degree. Overall, the data suggests that a degree in Real Estate from this institution can lead to solid career opportunities and financial growth over time.
AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.
Compare with Another School
See how the Real Estate degree at University of South Carolina - Columbia stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.