CofC vs. Trident Technical College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Charleston in Charleston, 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 CofC based on total student enrollment (13,552 students vs. 11,926 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Charleston is located in Charleston, SC (Midsize City setting); Trident Technical College is in Charleston, SC (Small City setting).
• College of Charleston is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Trident Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Charleston 16:1; Trident Technical College 21:1.

CofC vs. Trident Technical College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CofC 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 CofC ($1,818 vs. $21,004).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Trident Technical College are 33% lower than at College of Charleston ($9,600 vs. $14,332).
• College of Charleston is 157% more expensive for in-state tuition than Trident Technical College (about $7,928 more per year; $12,978.00 vs. $5,050.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 344.3% higher at CofC than at Trident Technical College (about $29,676 more per year; $38,296.00 vs. $8,620.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Charleston than at Trident Technical College (95% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Trident Technical College students is 20.6% larger than aid received by College of Charleston students ($10,831 vs. $8,983).

CofC vs. Trident Technical College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CofC 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 CofC.

• Trident Technical College reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of Charleston 1140/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of Charleston 25/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CofC - Test optional; Trident Technical College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: CofC Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman CofC students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Trident Technical College (3.5).

CofC vs. Trident Technical College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CofC 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 College of Charleston earn a median of about $12,300 more per year than Trident Technical College graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,200 vs. $33,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Trident Technical College graduates have a $5,728 lower median loan debt than CofC graduates ($15,772 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, Trident Technical College graduates have an estimated $59 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CofC graduates ($163 vs. $222).
• More CofC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Trident Technical College students, three years after graduation. (60% 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.