Spartanburg Community College vs. Trident Technical College

Comparable Facts

Compare Spartanburg Community College in Spartanburg, 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 Spartanburg Community College based on total student enrollment (13,552 students vs. 6,653 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Spartanburg Community College vs. Trident Technical College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Spartanburg Community 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 Spartanburg Community College ($1,818 vs. $3,175).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Spartanburg Community College are 36.8% lower than at Trident Technical College ($6,070 vs. $9,600).
• Spartanburg Community College is 23.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Trident Technical College (about $1,173 more per year; $6,223.00 vs. $5,050.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.6% higher at Spartanburg Community College than at Trident Technical College (about $1,515 more per year; $10,135.00 vs. $8,620.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Spartanburg Community College than at Trident Technical College (95% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Trident Technical College students is 33.7% larger than aid received by Spartanburg Community College students ($10,831 vs. $8,100).

Spartanburg Community College vs. Trident Technical College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Spartanburg Community College 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 Spartanburg Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Spartanburg Community College - Open admission; Trident Technical College - Open admission.
• Accepted freshman Trident Technical College students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Spartanburg Community College (3.2).

Spartanburg Community College vs. Trident Technical College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Spartanburg Community College 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 Trident Technical College earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than Spartanburg Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,900 vs. $29,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Spartanburg Community College graduates have a $12,272 lower median loan debt than Trident Technical College graduates ($3,500 vs. $15,772).
• Among borrowers, Spartanburg Community College graduates have an estimated $127 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Trident Technical College graduates ($36 vs. $163).
• More Spartanburg Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Trident Technical College students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.