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Marketing at University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $52,374/yr (15% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (54% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (204,300 openings/yr)

ROI 12.8x earnings multiple (4.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #44 of 502 Marketing programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Marketing graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$670K	$649K	$573K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.2x	12.8x	11.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.8x	4.6x	4.1x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	69	68	62

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$50,752

Out-of-state: $139,736 (4.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$98,128

-93% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,250

5.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$77,355

48% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $52,374 at University of South Carolina-Columbia come in 15% above the national median of $45,450 for Marketing programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Marketing programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Marketing's typical career paths, with 54% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 14% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $52,374 far exceeding the $23,250 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #44 of 502 programs, University of South Carolina-Columbia's Marketing program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $52,374 to $77,355 over five years — a 48% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of South Carolina-Columbia

A 61% admission rate makes University of South Carolina-Columbia accessible to a wide range of qualified students, one of the larger campuses at 28,113 students in Columbia, SC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of South Carolina-Columbia →

Top Career Paths

Marketing managers $161,030/yr

Sales managers $138,060/yr

Advertising and promotions managers $126,960/yr

View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Marketing at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of South Carolina-Columbia

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Marketing at University of South Carolina-Columbia?

A score of 68/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Marketing field.

Will AI replace Marketing careers?

With 54% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $573,176 in decade earnings vs $670,078 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →