by our College Data Analytics TeamThis page focuses on the debt students take on to attend University of South Carolina-Lancaster, including completion-adjusted borrowing and a standard repayment estimate. The data below is drawn directly from federal sources.
For incoming students at USC Lancaster, 34% of incoming undergraduates borrow in year one, averaging $5,724 each, across private and federal loan sources.
The average federal loan is $5,001, amounting to 90.9% of the $5,500 first-year borrowing cap for the typical first-year dependent student. Be aware: the undergraduate-wide averages below exclude private loans, while this freshman number includes them.
Counting every undergraduate at USC Lancaster, 35% borrow through federal student loan programs, borrowing on average $5,497 annually. This is 9.9% greater than the first-year federal average of $5,001.
Carrying that yearly figure forward comes to roughly $10,994 by year two and around $21,988 over four years. This projection keeps yearly federal borrowing flat and excludes private and Parent PLUS loans.
| Undergraduate federal borrowing | Value |
|---|---|
| Share using federal loans | 35% |
| Average federal loan per year | $5,497 |
| Undergraduates with a federal loan | 227 |
| Total federal loans (one year) | $1,247,765 |
The median student at USC Lancaster borrows $5,500 in federal borrowing.
| Borrower group | Median federal debt |
|---|---|
| All federal borrowers | $5,500 |
| Students who completed (graduates) | $9,616 |
| Students who withdrew | $5,500 |
Debt carried by students who withdrew is a key risk signal — these borrowers owe money without having earned the credential.
PLUS loans — taken out by parents or graduate students — add to the total cost of attendance financed by debt at USC Lancaster.
| Group | Borrowers | Median debt incl. PLUS |
|---|---|---|
| All borrowers | 58 | $14,686 |
The split below distinguishes Stafford borrowers from non-Stafford borrowers at USC Lancaster.
Stafford This Year vs Not
| Cohort | Borrowers | Median debt incl. PLUS |
|---|---|---|
| Stafford loan this year | 45 | — |
| No Stafford loan this year | 13 | — |
The indicators below describe what the typical debt costs to pay back at USC Lancaster.
Median debt differs by income tier, first-generation status, and whether the student is financially dependent.
By Family Income
| Income tier | Median federal debt |
|---|---|
| Low income | $6,500 |
| Middle income | $5,500 |
| High income | $5,500 |
First-Generation Comparison
| Cohort | Median federal debt |
|---|---|
| First-generation students | $5,500 |
| Continuing-generation students | $5,500 |
Dependency-Status Comparison
| Cohort | Median federal debt |
|---|---|
| Dependent students | $5,500 |
| Independent students | $9,500 |
These pre-calculated indicators summarize the borrowing gaps between cohorts at USC Lancaster.
Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized Loans
With an unsubsidized loan, interest starts adding up the day the loan is disbursed, including during school. Subsidized loans, by contrast, do not accrue interest while you are enrolled at least half-time, which makes them the less expensive option when you qualify.
Important to Remember
Declaring bankruptcy does not erase federal student loan debt. If you stop paying, the federal government can garnish a portion of your wages until the loans are repaid.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.