Admit rate has ranged 53%–70% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Erskine College, a small Christian liberal arts school in rural Due West, South Carolina, offers a tight-knit community where nearly all students live on campus and business majors dominate. With a 60-62% acceptance rate and middling graduation rates, it attracts students seeking a faith-based education with personalized attention—though post-grad earnings lag behind national averages.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
766
In-state tuition
$36,710
Out-of-state tuition
$36,710
Acceptance Rate
60-62%
Net Annual Cost
$16,525
On-Campus Housing
87% of students
Most Popular Major
Business (48% of grads)
6-Year Graduation Rate
49%
Median Earnings (6 yrs post-grad)
$39,618
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$53,459
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.2×
Median debt at graduation
$27,000
Graduation rate
45%
First-year retention
56%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
68%
Pell (lower-income) share
51%
First-generation share
22%
Endowment / student
$50,533
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$32,382
Biology, General$29,685
Business Administration, Management and Operations$29,685
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
109
Summer high
88°F
Winter low
39°F
Annual rain
48.4"
Annual snow
0.9"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
28
Scholarly works
232
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
0.2%
Bottom → top quintile
3%
From bottom quintile
6%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Erskine College?
Erskine College's acceptance rate is approximately 63% (Due West, SC), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Erskine College cost?
At Erskine College, the average net price (after aid) is about $16,525 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Erskine College?
Erskine College enrolls approximately 766 undergraduate students.
Where is Erskine College located?
Erskine College is located in Due West, SC.
Admissions
Erskine College is somewhat selective, with an Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovering between 60.6% (per PrepScholar) and 62.7% (Data USA) for 2024. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 930-1150 on the SAT or 17-23 on the ACT—placing them in the 25th percentile nationally for standardized tests. Unlike cutthroat elite schools, Erskine’s admissions process leans holistic, with 100% of students receiving some form of financial aid (PrepScholar).
Business administration reigns supreme here, accounting for (Niche), with sport/fitness management (27 grads) and biology (15 grads) trailing distantly. The curriculum emphasizes and , particularly in programs like the Business Administration major, which promises a 'strong foundation of knowledge and skills' (Erskine.edu). Unusual for a small college, Erskine offers niche like Biomedical Science (Biology) and Church Music (Music), appealing to students with very specific vocational goals.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
This is a residential campus—87% of students live on-site (U.S. News)—where snow days and late-night study sessions define the rhythm (Facebook video). The vibe is unabashedly communal, with programming 'made by and for students' to foster 'Christ-centered communities' (Erskine.edu). Dorms aim to support 'holistic development,' though some may find the lack of off-campus options (just 13% live elsewhere) claustrophobic. Athletics play a notable role, particularly in rallying school spirit.
Erskine’s six-year graduation rate sits at 49%—below its 53% target (SACSCOC report)—with a stark gender gap: 60% for women vs. 37% for men (Research.com). Alumni earnings are modest: $36,427 one year post-graduation (Niche), rising to $39,618 after six years (EDsmart)—9% below the national median. While 45% of graduates eventually out-earn high school grads (Instudi), the numbers suggest Erskine serves students who prioritize spiritual growth over financial ROI.
Erskine meets 100% of financial need with an average aid package of $34,505 (College Board), slashing the sticker price to $16,525 net cost annually (Kolly AI). Every student receives institutional grants—averaging $27,113 (PrepScholar)—making it surprisingly affordable for a private college. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. Calculator helps families estimate personalized costs, though the heavy reliance on aid suggests few pay full freight.
Erskine’s micro-community—where everyone knows your name and your professor’s office hours are literal open doors—is its defining feature. Unlike larger Christian colleges, it doubles down on ultra-personalized attention (evident in niche concentrations like Ecology and Wildlife Biology) and unapologetic faith integration. The trade-offs? Limited name recognition beyond the Southeast and post-grad earnings that won’t dazzle Wall Street. Ideal for students who want a tight-knit, values-driven college experience without cutthroat competition.
Erskine College logo · sourceErskine College - Due West, South Carolina · sourceErskine College - Due West, South Carolina · sourcePhoto Gallery - Erskine College · source
