Florence-Darlington Technical College vs. Trident Technical College

Comparable Facts

Compare Florence Darlington Technical College in Florence, 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 Florence-Darlington Technical College based on total student enrollment (13,552 students vs. 3,522 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Florence Darlington Technical College is located in Florence, SC (Rural Fringe setting); Trident Technical College is in Charleston, SC (Small City setting).
• Florence Darlington 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: Florence Darlington Technical College 18:1; Trident Technical College 21:1.

Florence-Darlington Technical College vs. Trident Technical College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florence-Darlington 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 Florence-Darlington Technical College ($1,818 vs. $2,772).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Trident Technical College are 31.7% lower than at Florence Darlington Technical College ($9,600 vs. $14,058).
• Trident Technical College is 3.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Florence-Darlington Technical College (about $150 more per year; $5,050.00 vs. $4,900.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.3% higher at Trident Technical College than at Florence Darlington Technical College (about $1,848 more per year; $8,620.00 vs. $6,772.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Florence Darlington Technical College than at Trident Technical College (94% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Trident Technical College students is 41.9% larger than aid received by Florence Darlington Technical College students ($10,831 vs. $7,633).

Florence-Darlington Technical College vs. Trident Technical College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florence-Darlington 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 Florence-Darlington Technical College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Florence-Darlington Technical College - Open admission; Trident Technical College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Florence-Darlington Technical College Aug 16, 2027.

Florence-Darlington Technical College vs. Trident Technical College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Florence-Darlington 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 $5,500 more per year than Florence-Darlington Technical College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,900 vs. $28,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Florence Darlington Technical College graduates have a $3,772 lower median loan debt than Trident Technical College graduates ($12,000 vs. $15,772).
• Among borrowers, Florence-Darlington Technical College graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Trident Technical College graduates ($124 vs. $163).
• More Trident Technical College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Florence-Darlington Technical College students, three years after graduation. (30% vs. 21%)

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.