Finance Degree in Charleston, SC — Salary & ROI 2026
Finance degree analysis for Charleston, SC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$72K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$113K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.9 yrs
in Charleston
Cost of Living
103
index (100 = avg)
Finance in Charleston, SC Overview
Charleston, South Carolina (pop. 150,277) has 9 colleges offering Finance programs. The local cost of living index of 103 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,168/month. Finance enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Modeling and Valuation. The adjusted starting salary in Charleston is approximately $72,100, growing to $113,300 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%
Finance Salary in Charleston (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Charleston's cost of living index of 103 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Finance salary: $70,000 starting, $110,000 mid-career, $145,000 senior level.Charleston adjustment factor: 1.03x based on the local cost of living index.
Finance ROI Calculator for Charleston
Estimate your return on investment for a Finance 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
$36,050
vs HS diploma in Charleston
ROI Payback Period
2.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Charleston
$875,416
Lifetime earnings premium ($978,500) minus total education cost ($103,084)
Student Loan Payoff for Finance in Charleston
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Charleston for Finance
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 Finance in Charleston
Charleston offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Finance graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Charleston Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Finance Job Titles
Finance in Nearby South Carolina Cities
Other Business Majors in Charleston
Business Analytics
$80K starting · 2 yr ROI
Economics
$67K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$52K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$52K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$52K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$64K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$52K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$60K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Finance 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.
Explore More
Compare Finance ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Charleston.