Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at University of South Carolina - Sumter
SC · Associate's Degree · CIP 24.01
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities degree from University of South Carolina - Sumter earn a median salary of $43,698 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in SC, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $45,901. The degree typically pays for itself in 19.5 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$33,072
Typical Career
$43,698
Top Performers
$56,225
Estimated break-even: 19.5 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$291
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,642. Most students can comfortably afford about a $291 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x 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: Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Retail Trade.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$45,901
Nominal: $43,698 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 | $20,572 | $29,307 | $40,688 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $33,072 | $43,698 | $56,225 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $39,154 | $51,308 | $70,747 |
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 $43,698 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)
= $43,698 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9520)
= $45,901 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for graduates include Educational Services (20.5%), Health Care & Social Assistance (16.8%), and Retail Trade (10.7%). The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 19.5 years, suggesting a long-term return on investment for those pursuing this degree. While the initial financial benefits may not be immediate, the degree can lead to stable career opportunities in essential sectors, making it a viable option for students interested in these fields.
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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.