South Carolina State University vs. Centra College

Should I go to South Carolina State University or Centra College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if South Carolina State University or Centra College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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South Carolina State University vs. Centra College comparison
South Carolina State University Centra College College 3 College 4
South Carolina State University
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Overview

South Carolina State University Centra College
Location Orangeburg, SC Lynchburg, VA
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 2,649 227
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1011
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website scsu.edu centrahealth.com
Team Colors                    

Costs

South Carolina State University Centra College
Tuition (In State) $9,528 $9,240
Tuition (Out of State) $20,218 $9,240
Room & Board $9,000 $9,406
Avg Net Price $17,435 $28,418
Avg Grant Aid $15,873 $6,495
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 100%

Admission

South Carolina State University Centra College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,833 15
Admitted 5,733 6
Acceptance Rate 83.9% 40%
Enrolled % 15.7% 50%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 -
Typical High School Grades B -
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 15/19
SAT Range 800/1050
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 31, 2025

Academics

South Carolina State University Centra College
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)

Outcomes

South Carolina State University Centra College
Graduation Rate 35% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $31,000 $44,800
Making Student Loan Payments 27% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $33,205 $12,042
Median Loan Payment $343 $124

Diversity

South Carolina State University Centra College
% Men 44% 13%
% Women 56% 87%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 2% 65%
% Black 96% 35%
% Hispanic 0% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 0%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

South Carolina State University Centra College
% In-State 77% 100%
% Out-of-State 23% 0%

Campus

South Carolina State University Centra College
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • South Carolina State University is larger than than Centra College based on total student enrollment (2,649 students vs. 227 students)

South Carolina State University vs. Centra College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, South Carolina State University or Centra College?

  • South Carolina State University is 3.1% more expensive to attend than Centra College for in-state tuition ($9,528.00 vs. $9,240.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 118.8% higher at South Carolina State University than Centra College ($20,218.00 vs. $9,240.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at South Carolina State University than Centra College ($17,435 vs. $28,418)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Carolina State University are 4.5% lower than costs at Centra College ($9,000 vs. $9,406)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Centra College than South Carolina State University (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by South Carolina State University students is 144.4% larger than aid received Centra College ($15,873 vs. $6,495)

South Carolina State University vs. Centra College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, South Carolina State University or Centra College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Centra College or South Carolina State University .

  • South Carolina State University has a higher acceptance rate (83.9%) than Centra College (40%)

South Carolina State University vs. Centra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, South Carolina State University or Centra College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Centra College and South Carolina State University.

  • Graduates from Centra College earn on average $13,800 more per year than South Carolina State University graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $31,000)
  • Centra College students graduate with a $21,163 lower median federal student loan debt than South Carolina State University graduates. ($12,042 vs. $33,205)
  • Centra College graduates are paying $219 less per month on federal student loans than South Carolina State University graduates. ($124 vs. $343)
  • More Centra College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former South Carolina State University students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 27%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/