Aiken Technical College vs. Trident Technical College

Comparable Facts

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

Trident Technical College is larger than Aiken Technical College based on total student enrollment (13,552 students vs. 2,307 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Aiken Technical College is located in Graniteville, SC (Rural Fringe setting); Trident Technical College is in Charleston, SC (Small City setting).
• Aiken Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Trident Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Aiken Technical College 15:1; Trident Technical College 21:1.

Aiken Technical College vs. Trident Technical College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Aiken Technical College or Trident Technical College? 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 Trident Technical College than Aiken Technical College ($1,818 vs. $5,442).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Trident Technical College are 11.1% lower than at Aiken Technical College ($9,600 vs. $10,800).
• Aiken Technical College is 22.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Trident Technical College (about $1,122 more per year; $6,172.00 vs. $5,050.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.8% higher at Trident Technical College than at Aiken Technical College (about $696 more per year; $8,620.00 vs. $7,924.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Aiken Technical College as at Trident Technical College (93% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Trident Technical College students is 53.6% larger than aid received by Aiken Technical College students ($10,831 vs. $7,053).

Aiken Technical College vs. Trident Technical College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Aiken Technical College or Trident Technical College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Trident Technical College 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; Trident Technical College - Open admission.

Aiken Technical College vs. Trident Technical College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Aiken Technical College and Trident Technical College? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from Trident Technical College earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than Aiken Technical College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,900 vs. $29,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Aiken Technical College graduates have a $7,327 lower median loan debt than Trident Technical College graduates ($8,445 vs. $15,772).
• Among borrowers, Aiken Technical College graduates have an estimated $76 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Trident Technical College graduates ($87 vs. $163).
• More Aiken Technical College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Trident Technical College students, three years after graduation. (38% vs. 30%)

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.