Anderson University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Anderson, South Carolina. It enrolls 3,183 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
60/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes67
Value12
Affordability27
Selectivity70
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 54.7%, Anderson University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
54.7%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1100 – 1280
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
22 – 29
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Anderson University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
15.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Anderson University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $23,544 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$23,544
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
21%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
42%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$34,970
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,720
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,720
Books & Supplies
$600
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,593
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,523
Total Cost of Attendance
$50,192
Application fee: $40 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$17,188
$30,001 – $48,000
$18,724
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,647
$75,001 – $110,000
$24,926
Over $110,000
$27,080
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,75010%percentile
$7,10425%percentile
$26,700Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$36,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $23,000
↓ $3,700
No Pell $21,500
↓ $5,200
Dependent students $22,250
↓ $4,450
Independent students $18,818
↓ $7,882
Female students $22,750
↓ $3,950
Male students $19,881
↓ $6,819
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($26,700), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
61% of full-time students who enrolled at Anderson University graduate within six years, and 82% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
61%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
82%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Anderson University earn a median of $42,101 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$42,101
Earning > $25K
74%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$35,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$43,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$33,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$38,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$40,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $8,700, about 20% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
16.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 77% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Anderson University is home to 3,183 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
3,183
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
25%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 82.6%2,629
Hispanic 5.6%178
Black 5.5%176
Other 2.4%76
Asian 2.0%65
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Anderson University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityAnderson, South Carolina
Housing
Mostly residential2,073 beds on campus
Adult Learners
5%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Anderson University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
57 distinct programs across
22 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Anderson University is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$163M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$67,558
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
189 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
33
17%
$81,350
Associate Professors
48
25%
$69,570
Assistant Professors
70
37%
$68,193
Instructors
17
9%
$50,413
Lecturers
21
11%
$53,044
Pros & Cons of Anderson University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Anderson University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
CONS
Above-average net price
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Frequently Asked Questions about Anderson University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Anderson University.
Is Anderson University hard to get into?
Admissions at Anderson University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 54.7%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Anderson University?
Anderson University has an acceptance rate of 54.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Anderson University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Anderson University scored between 1100 and 1280 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Anderson University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Anderson University scored between 22 and 29 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Anderson University cost?
The average net price after aid at Anderson University is $23,544 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Anderson University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,101 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $23,544 per year. That's roughly 1.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Anderson University known for?
Anderson University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Business Administration, Education, General. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Anderson University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Anderson University are $42,101, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Anderson University accredited?
Yes. Anderson University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Anderson University?
Anderson University enrolls 3,183 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Anderson University?
Anderson University graduates 61% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Anderson University a public or private college?
Anderson University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Anderson University located?
Anderson University is located in Anderson, South Carolina.
What programs does Anderson University offer?
Anderson University offers 57 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Business Administration, Education, General.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Anderson University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Anderson University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in South Carolina
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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