Aiken Technical College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Aiken Technical College in Graniteville, SC with Spartanburg Methodist College in Spartanburg, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Aiken Technical College is larger than SMC based on total student enrollment (2,307 students vs. 1,119 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Aiken Technical College is located in Graniteville, SC (Rural Fringe setting); Spartanburg Methodist College is in Spartanburg, SC (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Aiken Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Spartanburg Methodist College is a private, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Aiken Technical College 15:1; Spartanburg Methodist College 16:1.

Aiken Technical College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Aiken Technical College or SMC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Aiken Technical College than SMC ($5,442 vs. $14,799).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aiken Technical College are 3.2% lower than at Spartanburg Methodist College ($10,800 vs. $11,160).
• Spartanburg Methodist College is 234.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Aiken Technical College (about $14,478 more per year; $20,650.00 vs. $6,172.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 160.6% higher at SMC than at Aiken Technical College (about $12,726 more per year; $20,650.00 vs. $7,924.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Spartanburg Methodist College than at Aiken Technical College (100% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Spartanburg Methodist College students is 145.8% larger than aid received by Aiken Technical College students ($17,334 vs. $7,053).

Aiken Technical College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Aiken Technical College or SMC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SMC and Aiken Technical College.

• Aiken Technical College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Aiken Technical College - Open admission; SMC - Test-free.

Aiken Technical College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Aiken Technical College and SMC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Spartanburg Methodist College earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than Aiken Technical College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,400 vs. $29,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Aiken Technical College graduates have a $3,555 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($8,445 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Aiken Technical College graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($87 vs. $124).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Aiken Technical College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 38%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.