OCtech vs. Trident Technical College

Comparable Facts

Compare Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College in Orangeburg, 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 OCtech based on total student enrollment (13,552 students vs. 2,106 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is located in Orangeburg, SC (Rural Fringe setting); Trident Technical College is in Charleston, SC (Small City setting).
• Orangeburg Calhoun 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: Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College 15:1; Trident Technical College 21:1.

OCtech vs. Trident Technical College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OCtech 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 OCtech ($1,818 vs. $6,912).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College are 47.9% lower than at Trident Technical College ($5,000 vs. $9,600).
• Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is 23.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Trident Technical College (about $1,192 more per year; $6,242.00 vs. $5,050.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.2% higher at Trident Technical College than at Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College (about $266 more per year; $8,620.00 vs. $8,354.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College than at Trident Technical College (96% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Trident Technical College students is 34.2% larger than aid received by Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College students ($10,831 vs. $8,072).

OCtech vs. Trident Technical College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, OCtech 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 OCtech.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: OCtech - Open admission; Trident Technical College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: OCtech Aug 2, 2027.

OCtech vs. Trident Technical College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for OCtech 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 $5,000 more per year than OCtech graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,900 vs. $28,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College graduates have a $6,772 lower median loan debt than Trident Technical College graduates ($9,000 vs. $15,772).
• Among borrowers, OCtech graduates have an estimated $70 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Trident Technical College graduates ($93 vs. $163).
• More Trident Technical College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OCtech students, three years after graduation. (30% 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.