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PensionRisk

Virginia Retirement System (VRS) vs South Carolina Retirement System

Side-by-side pension health comparison from DOL and public plan data

Virginia Retirement System (VRS) (B) and South Carolina Retirement System (C) are close on the PensionRisk rubric. Funding ratios sit at 75% and 55% respectively — within a few points of each other.

With grades this close, the comparison turns on plan-specific factors: status (active vs frozen), participant maturity, sponsor financial health, and multi-year trajectory rather than the headline composite.

Reviewed by PensionRisk Editorial Team · Updated

Verdict

Virginia Retirement System (VRS) has a stronger Pension Health Score of 70/100 (B) compared to South Carolina Retirement System at 52/100 (C). Funding ratios differ by 20.0 percentage points (75.1% vs 55.1%). Virginia Retirement System (VRS) covers 740,000 participants.

MetricVirginia Retirement System (VRS)South Carolina Retirement System
Health Score
Composite of funding ratio, trend, and PBGC risk
70/100 (B)*52/100 (C)
Funding Ratio
Assets as % of liabilities (100%+ is fully funded)
75.1%*55.1%
Total Assets$87.0B$35.5B
Total Liabilities$115.8B$64.4B*
Unfunded Liability$28.8B*$28.9B
Participants740,000575,000
1-Year Investment Return6.0%*5.2%
Plan Typepublicpublic
PBGC Risk Levelmoderatehigh
SponsorState of VirginiaState of South Carolina

Virginia Retirement System (VRS) has a stronger Pension Health Score of 70/100 (B) compared to South Carolina Retirement System at 52/100 (C). Funding ratios differ by 20.0 percentage points (75.1% vs 55.1%). Virginia Retirement System (VRS) covers 740,000 participants.

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Virginia Retirement System (VRS) full profile|South Carolina Retirement System full profile

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