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Real Estate Degree in Charleston, SC — Salary & ROI 2026

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

Starting Salary

$52K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$93K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

6.7 yrs

in Charleston

Cost of Living

103

index (100 = avg)

Real Estate in Charleston, SC Overview

Charleston, South Carolina (pop. 150,277) has 9 colleges offering Real Estate programs. The local cost of living index of 103 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,168/month. Real Estate enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Property Valuation and Investment Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Charleston is approximately $51,500, growing to $92,700 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%

Real Estate Salary in Charleston (COL-Adjusted)

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

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$51,500(+$1,500 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$92,700(+$2,700 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$128,750(+$3,750 vs national)

Note: National average Real Estate salary: $50,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $125,000 senior level.Charleston adjustment factor: 1.03x based on the local cost of living index.

Real Estate ROI Calculator for Charleston

Estimate your return on investment for a Real Estate 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

$15,450

vs HS diploma in Charleston

ROI Payback Period

6.7 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Charleston

$617,916

Lifetime earnings premium ($721,000) minus total education cost ($103,084)

Student Loan Payoff for Real Estate in Charleston

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$103,084
Monthly Payment$1,170
Total Interest$37,376
% of Monthly Income27%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

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

Colleges in Charleston for Real Estate

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 Real Estate in Charleston

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

CBREJLLCushman & WakefieldBrookfieldPrologis

Key Charleston Hiring Sectors for Business

Financial services

Consulting firms

Fortune 500 companies

Startups

Marketing agencies

Common Real Estate Job Titles

Real Estate AnalystProperty ManagerCommercial Broker

Real Estate 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 Real Estate ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Charleston.

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