CCTC vs. Trident Technical College

Comparable Facts

Compare Central Carolina Technical College in Sumter, 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 CCTC based on total student enrollment (13,552 students vs. 2,825 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Central Carolina Technical College is located in Sumter, SC (Small City setting); Trident Technical College is in Charleston, SC (Small City setting).
• Central Carolina 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: Central Carolina Technical College 16:1; Trident Technical College 21:1.

CCTC vs. Trident Technical College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CCTC 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 CCTC ($1,818 vs. $5,685).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Carolina Technical College are 20% lower than at Trident Technical College ($7,676 vs. $9,600).
• Central Carolina Technical College is 30.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Trident Technical College (about $1,544 more per year; $6,594.00 vs. $5,050.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.6% higher at CCTC than at Trident Technical College (about $396 more per year; $9,016.00 vs. $8,620.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central Carolina Technical College than at Trident Technical College (95% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Trident Technical College students is 39.6% larger than aid received by Central Carolina Technical College students ($10,831 vs. $7,757).

CCTC vs. Trident Technical College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CCTC or Trident Technical College? 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 Trident Technical College and CCTC.

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

CCTC vs. Trident Technical College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CCTC and Trident Technical College? 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 Trident Technical College earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than CCTC graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,900 vs. $28,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Central Carolina Technical College graduates have a $7,232 lower median loan debt than Trident Technical College graduates ($8,540 vs. $15,772).
• Among borrowers, CCTC graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Trident Technical College graduates ($88 vs. $163).
• More Trident Technical College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CCTC students, three years after graduation. (30% vs. 24%)

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.