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Cosmetic Science Degree in Charleston, SC — Salary & ROI 2026

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

Starting Salary

$70K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$98K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

3 yrs

in Charleston

Cost of Living

103

index (100 = avg)

Cosmetic Science in Charleston, SC Overview

Charleston, South Carolina (pop. 150,277) has 9 colleges offering Cosmetic Science programs. The local cost of living index of 103 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,168/month. Cosmetic Science has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Formulation and Quality Control skills. The adjusted starting salary in Charleston is approximately $70,040.

Category

STEM

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%

Cosmetic Science Salary in Charleston (COL-Adjusted)

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

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$70,040(+$2,040 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$97,850(+$2,850 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$128,750(+$3,750 vs national)

Note: National average Cosmetic Science salary: $68,000 starting, $95,000 mid-career, $125,000 senior level.Charleston adjustment factor: 1.03x based on the local cost of living index.

Cosmetic Science ROI Calculator for Charleston

Estimate your return on investment for a Cosmetic Science 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

$33,990

vs HS diploma in Charleston

ROI Payback Period

3 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Charleston

$-51,584

Lifetime earnings premium ($51,500) minus total education cost ($103,084)

Student Loan Payoff for Cosmetic Science in Charleston

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$103,084
Monthly Payment$1,170
Total Interest$37,376
% of Monthly Income20%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

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

Colleges in Charleston for Cosmetic Science

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 Cosmetic Science in Charleston

Charleston offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Cosmetic Science graduates. National top employers in this field include:

L'OrealEstee LauderP&GUnilever

Key Charleston Hiring Sectors for STEM

Tech companies

Research labs

Government agencies

Startups

Consulting firms

Common Cosmetic Science Job Titles

Cosmetic ChemistProduct DeveloperR&D Scientist

Cosmetic Science 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 Cosmetic Science ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Charleston.

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