Lander University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Greenwood, South Carolina. It enrolls 3,397 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
61/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes28
Value53
Affordability69
Selectivity30
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 81.3%, Lander University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
81.3%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
950 – 1178
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
16 – 23
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 Lander University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
24.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Lander 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 $15,363 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,363
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
39%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
49%
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 (in-state)
$11,700
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$21,300
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,100
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,100
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,555
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,555
Total Cost of Attendance
$27,277
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
$11,450
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,778
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,842
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,319
Over $110,000
$19,102
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.
$3,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$27,16275%percentile
$40,52090%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 $14,000
↓ $11,000
No Pell $11,329
↓ $13,671
Dependent students $12,250
↓ $12,750
Independent students $17,016
↓ $7,984
Female students $13,403
↓ $11,597
Male students $11,000
↓ $14,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,500, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
45% of full-time students who enrolled at Lander University graduate within six years, and 69% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
45%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
69%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Lander University earn a median of $42,396 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$42,396
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
$34,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$45,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$35,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$37,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$41,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,600, about 23% 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 ↑
19.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 73% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Lander University is home to 3,397 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 32% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
3,397
Part-Time
4%
First-Generation
32%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 64.7%2,196
Black 23.7%804
Other 6.7%229
International 2.5%86
Hispanic 2.1%71
Asian 0.1%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Lander University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantGreenwood, South Carolina
Housing
Mostly residential1,800 beds on campus
Adult Learners
6%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Lander University offers
a varied set of programs:
32 distinct programs across
20 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 Lander University is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,544
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$23M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$64,010
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
163 instructional faculty across 6 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
16
10%
$77,387
Associate Professors
23
14%
$72,913
Assistant Professors
58
36%
$64,140
Instructors
7
4%
$50,801
Lecturers
43
26%
$51,695
No Rank
16
10%
$76,233
Pros & Cons of Lander University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Lander University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Lander University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lander University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Lander University.
Is Lander University hard to get into?
Lander University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 81.3%.
What is the acceptance rate at Lander University?
Lander University has an acceptance rate of 81.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Lander University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Lander University scored between 950 and 1178 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 Lander University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Lander University scored between 16 and 23 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Lander University cost?
The average net price after aid at Lander University is $15,363 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Lander University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,396 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,363 per year. That's roughly 2.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Lander University known for?
Lander University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Nursing, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Lander University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Lander University are $42,396, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Lander University accredited?
Yes. Lander University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Lander University?
Lander University enrolls 3,397 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Lander University?
Lander University graduates 45% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Lander University a public or private college?
Lander University is a Public institution.
Where is Lander University located?
Lander University is located in Greenwood, South Carolina.
What programs does Lander University offer?
Lander University offers 32 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Nursing, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Lander University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lander University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in South Carolina
Other colleges in South Carolina share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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