Aiken Technical College vs. TCL

Comparable Facts

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

Technical College of the Lowcountry is larger than Aiken Technical College based on total student enrollment (2,461 students vs. 2,307 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Aiken Technical College is located in Graniteville, SC (Rural Fringe setting); Technical College of the Lowcountry is in Beaufort, SC (Remote Town setting).
• Aiken Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Technical College of the Lowcountry is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Aiken Technical College 15:1; Technical College of the Lowcountry 14:1.

Aiken Technical College vs. TCL Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Aiken Technical College or TCL? 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 TCL ($5,442 vs. $15,776).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aiken Technical College are 53.8% lower than at Technical College of the Lowcountry ($10,800 vs. $23,382).
• Technical College of the Lowcountry is 9.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Aiken Technical College (about $584 more per year; $6,756.00 vs. $6,172.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 50.4% higher at TCL than at Aiken Technical College (about $3,992 more per year; $11,916.00 vs. $7,924.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Technical College of the Lowcountry than at Aiken Technical College (94% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Aiken Technical College students is 40.1% larger than aid received by Technical College of the Lowcountry students ($7,053 vs. $5,033).

Aiken Technical College vs. TCL Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Aiken Technical College or TCL? 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 TCL and Aiken Technical College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Aiken Technical College - Open admission; TCL - Open admission.

Aiken Technical College vs. TCL Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Aiken Technical College and TCL? 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 Technical College of the Lowcountry earn a median of about $100 more per year than Aiken Technical College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,600 vs. $29,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Technical College of the Lowcountry graduates have a $945 lower median loan debt than Aiken Technical College graduates ($7,500 vs. $8,445).
• Among borrowers, TCL graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Aiken Technical College graduates ($77 vs. $87).
• More Aiken Technical College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former TCL students, three years after graduation. (38% vs. 35%)

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.