OCtech vs. SMC

Deciding between Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College and Spartanburg Methodist College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • OCtech Orangeburg, SC
  • SMC Spartanburg, SC
  • Setting
  • OCtech Rural Fringe
  • SMC Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • OCtech 2,106
  • SMC 1,119
  • Type
  • OCtech Public 2 Year
  • SMC Private 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • OCtech
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • OCtech -
  • SMC United Methodist
  • Status
  • OCtech Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • OCtech
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • OCtech $5,210
  • SMC $20,650
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • OCtech $8,354
  • SMC $20,650
  • Room & Board
  • OCtech $5,000
  • SMC $11,160
  • Average Net Price
  • OCtech $6,912
  • SMC $14,799
  • Average Grant Aid
  • OCtech $8,072
  • SMC $17,334
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • OCtech 96%
  • SMC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • OCtech -
  • SMC 2,212
  • Admitted
  • OCtech -
  • SMC 1,729
  • Acceptance Rate
  • OCtech Open
  • SMC 78.2%
  • Enrolled
  • OCtech Open
  • SMC 28%
  • Typical SAT score
  • OCtech
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • OCtech
  • SMC
  • Average High School GPA
  • OCtech -
  • SMC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • OCtech -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • OCtech Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • OCtech
  • SMC
  • ACT Range
  • OCtech
  • SMC
  • SAT Range
  • OCtech
  • SMC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • OCtech Open admission
  • SMC Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • OCtech Aug 2, 2027
  • SMC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • OCtech 15:1
  • SMC 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • OCtech
    • Health Professions (30%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (22%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Precision Production Trades (7%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (83%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (2%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • OCtech -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • OCtech $28,900
  • SMC $34,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • OCtech 26%
  • SMC 46%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • OCtech $9,000
  • SMC $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • OCtech $93
  • SMC $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • OCtech 29%
  • SMC 43%
  • % Women
  • OCtech 71%
  • SMC 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • OCtech Medium
  • SMC High
  • HBCU
  • OCtech No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • OCtech 41%
  • SMC 57%
  • % Asian
  • OCtech 0%
  • SMC 1%
  • % Black
  • OCtech 53%
  • SMC 33%
  • % Hispanic
  • OCtech 1%
  • SMC 7%
  • % Native American
  • OCtech 1%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • OCtech 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • OCtech 1%
  • SMC 1%
  • % International
  • OCtech 0%
  • SMC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • OCtech 2%
  • SMC 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • OCtech 98%
  • SMC 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • OCtech 2%
  • SMC 2%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • OCtech No
  • SMC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • OCtech No
  • SMC No
  • Meal Plan
  • OCtech No
  • SMC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • OCtech Yes
  • SMC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • OCtech No
  • SMC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College in Orangeburg, SC with Spartanburg Methodist College in Spartanburg, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is larger than SMC based on total student enrollment (2,106 students vs. 1,119 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is located in Orangeburg, SC (Rural Fringe setting); Spartanburg Methodist College is in Spartanburg, SC (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Spartanburg Methodist College is a private, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College 15:1; Spartanburg Methodist College 16:1.

OCtech vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OCtech or SMC? 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 Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College than SMC ($6,912 vs. $14,799).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College are 55.2% lower than at Spartanburg Methodist College ($5,000 vs. $11,160).
  • Spartanburg Methodist College is 230.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than OCtech (about $14,408 more per year; $20,650.00 vs. $6,242.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 147.2% higher at SMC than at Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College (about $12,296 more per year; $20,650.00 vs. $8,354.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Spartanburg Methodist College than at Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College (100% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Spartanburg Methodist College students is 114.7% larger than aid received by Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College students ($17,334 vs. $8,072).

OCtech vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, OCtech or SMC? 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 SMC and OCtech.

  • Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: OCtech - Open admission; SMC - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: OCtech Aug 2, 2027.

OCtech vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for OCtech and SMC? 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 Spartanburg Methodist College earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than OCtech graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,400 vs. $28,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($9,000 vs. $12,000).
  • Among borrowers, OCtech graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($93 vs. $124).
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OCtech students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 26%)

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.