Superintendent’s Message

 A profile of some of our area higher education institutions demonstrates that our area four-year schools are expensive! For example, the following are tuition costs for just one year of education, and this does not include room and board:

Clemson University: $25,000 for in-state and $45,000 for out of state

Anderson University:  $28,000

Erskine College:  $32,500 (Most recent posting for the 2015-16 school year)

Lander University: $12,300 for in-state and $21,900 for out of state

Furman University: $49,600

 This is not a good sign when we hear that South Carolina is leading the nation in the average median student debt graduates have accumulated upon completing a degree, according to the careers site Zippia. So, will tuition cost stop increasing? Doubtful at best! The Commission on Higher Education shared that our higher education institutions in South Carolina have already passed Moody’s credit rating threshold. Plus, our larger institutions such as Clemson University, are accepting approximately 38% of their enrollment from out of state students. Clemson University will receive the full amount of tuition from most of those students. Yet, a huge concern is that five years after graduation, only 11% of those out-of-state students will remain in South Carolina investing in our state.

 A four year degree has been and will continue to be a great investment for many of our high school students. However, it is imperative we provide them with the best direction possible in pursuing their next step after high school graduation. We need these students to be invested in the South Carolina economy, not indebted to it.

Dr. Richard Rosenberger

Mission & Vision