Voorhees College

In 1897, Elizabeth Evelyn Wright founded Denmark Industrial School for African Americans. Located in a rural area in the small town of Denmark, South Carolina, Voorhees College was modeled off of the well-known Tuskegee Institute of Alabama. The college has had a rocky past, most notably including a time in 1969 when more than 500 students at the small college protested against the administration and the campus was occupied by 75 armed students.

Voorhees College has come a long way since 1969, however, and is held in good standing today. While a well-reputed school that’s popular enough with its students, the fact that Voorhees College graduates do not find themselves facing a bright financial future is a not-so-popular reality. Students pay just under $25,000 a year for their education. According to PayScale, the average 20-year return on investment for Vorhees College graduates is about -$153,000.