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Business Administration Degree in Charleston, SC — Salary & ROI 2026

Business Administration degree analysis for Charleston, SC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.

Starting Salary

$60K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$91K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

4.4 yrs

in Charleston

Cost of Living

103

index (100 = avg)

Business Administration in Charleston, SC Overview

Charleston, South Carolina (pop. 150,277) has 9 colleges offering Business Administration programs. The local cost of living index of 103 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,168/month. Business Administration enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Leadership and Strategic Planning. The adjusted starting salary in Charleston is approximately $59,740, growing to $90,640 by mid-career.

Category

Business

Local Colleges

9

Public Tuition

$13,659/yr

Private Tuition

$29,969/yr

Room & Board

$12,112/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$7,774/yr

Unemployment

6.2%

Graduation Rate

62%

Business Administration Salary in Charleston (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Charleston's cost of living index of 103 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$59,740(+$1,740 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$90,640(+$2,640 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$118,450(+$3,450 vs national)

Note: National average Business Administration salary: $58,000 starting, $88,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Charleston adjustment factor: 1.03x based on the local cost of living index.

Business Administration ROI Calculator for Charleston

Estimate your return on investment for a Business Administration degree using local Charleston tuition and cost of living data.

Public avg: $13,659 | Private avg: $29,969

Charleston avg aid: $7,774/yr

Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%

Total Education Cost

$103,084

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$23,690

vs HS diploma in Charleston

ROI Payback Period

4.4 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Charleston

$566,416

Lifetime earnings premium ($669,500) minus total education cost ($103,084)

Student Loan Payoff for Business Administration in Charleston

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$103,084
Monthly Payment$1,170
Total Interest$37,376
% of Monthly Income24%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$103,084
Monthly Payment$2,017
Total Interest$17,933
Interest Savings$19,442

Colleges in Charleston for Business Administration

College of Charleston

public

$12,622/yr

$50,488 total

The Citadel

public

$14,696/yr

$58,784 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Trident Technical College

$5,064/yr

Top Employers for Business Administration in Charleston

Charleston offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Business Administration graduates. National top employers in this field include:

AmazonJPMorganDeloitteProcter & GambleMcKinsey

Key Charleston Hiring Sectors for Business

Financial services

Consulting firms

Fortune 500 companies

Startups

Marketing agencies

Common Business Administration Job Titles

Business AnalystOperations ManagerManagement Consultant

Business Administration Degree in Charleston — FAQ

Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.

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Compare Business Administration ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Charleston.

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