Piedmont Technical College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

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

Piedmont Technical College is larger than SMC based on total student enrollment (5,143 students vs. 1,119 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Piedmont Technical College is located in Greenwood, SC (Distant Town setting); Spartanburg Methodist College is in Spartanburg, SC (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Piedmont 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: Piedmont Technical College 18:1; Spartanburg Methodist College 16:1.

Piedmont Technical College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Piedmont Technical College 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 Piedmont Technical College than SMC ($11,476 vs. $14,799).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Spartanburg Methodist College are 31.6% lower than at Piedmont Technical College ($11,160 vs. $16,308).
• Spartanburg Methodist College is 263.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Piedmont Technical College (about $14,975 more per year; $20,650.00 vs. $5,675.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 198.3% higher at SMC than at Piedmont Technical College (about $13,727 more per year; $20,650.00 vs. $6,923.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Spartanburg Methodist College than at Piedmont Technical College (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Spartanburg Methodist College students is 87.3% larger than aid received by Piedmont Technical College students ($17,334 vs. $9,254).

Piedmont Technical College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Piedmont Technical College 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 Piedmont Technical College.

• Piedmont Technical College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Piedmont Technical College - Open admission; SMC - Test-free.

Piedmont Technical College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Piedmont Technical College 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 $6,200 more per year than Piedmont Technical College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,400 vs. $28,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Piedmont Technical College graduates have a $1,820 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($10,180 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Piedmont Technical College graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($105 vs. $124).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Piedmont Technical College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.