SMC vs. TCTC

Deciding between Spartanburg Methodist College and Tri County Technical 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
  • SMC Spartanburg, SC
  • TCTC Pendleton, SC
  • Setting
  • SMC Midsize Suburban
  • TCTC Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • SMC 1,119
  • TCTC 5,890
  • Type
  • SMC Private 2 Year
  • TCTC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SMC
  • TCTC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SMC United Methodist
  • TCTC -
  • Status
  • SMC Non-profit
  • TCTC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SMC
  • TCTC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SMC $20,650
  • TCTC $4,448
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SMC $20,650
  • TCTC $11,815
  • Room & Board
  • SMC $11,160
  • TCTC $23,472
  • Average Net Price
  • SMC $14,799
  • TCTC $16,927
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SMC $17,334
  • TCTC $8,105
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SMC 100%
  • TCTC 91%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SMC 16:1
  • TCTC 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (83%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (2%)
  • TCTC
    • Health Professions (28%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Precision Production Trades (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SMC -
  • TCTC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SMC $34,400
  • TCTC $30,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SMC 46%
  • TCTC 43%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SMC $12,000
  • TCTC $7,625
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SMC $124
  • TCTC $78

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SMC 43%
  • TCTC 46%
  • % Women
  • SMC 57%
  • TCTC 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SMC High
  • TCTC Low
  • HBCU
  • SMC No
  • TCTC No
  • % White
  • SMC 57%
  • TCTC 80%
  • % Asian
  • SMC 1%
  • TCTC 1%
  • % Black
  • SMC 33%
  • TCTC 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • SMC 7%
  • TCTC 5%
  • % Native American
  • SMC 0%
  • TCTC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SMC 0%
  • TCTC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SMC 1%
  • TCTC 3%
  • % International
  • SMC 1%
  • TCTC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SMC 0%
  • TCTC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SMC 98%
  • TCTC 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SMC 2%
  • TCTC 12%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Tri County Technical College is larger than SMC based on total student enrollment (5,890 students vs. 1,119 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Spartanburg Methodist College is located in Spartanburg, SC (Midsize Suburban setting); Tri County Technical College is in Pendleton, SC (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Spartanburg Methodist College is a private, non-profit 2-year institution. Tri County Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Spartanburg Methodist College 16:1; Tri County Technical College 20:1.

SMC vs. TCTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMC or TCTC? 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 Spartanburg Methodist College than TCTC ($14,799 vs. $16,927).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Spartanburg Methodist College are 52.5% lower than at Tri County Technical College ($11,160 vs. $23,472).
  • Spartanburg Methodist College is 242.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than TCTC (about $14,619 more per year; $20,650.00 vs. $6,031.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 74.8% higher at SMC than at Tri County Technical College (about $8,835 more per year; $20,650.00 vs. $11,815.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Spartanburg Methodist College than at Tri County Technical College (100% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Spartanburg Methodist College students is 113.9% larger than aid received by Tri County Technical College students ($17,334 vs. $8,105).

SMC vs. TCTC Admissions comparison

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

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

SMC vs. TCTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SMC and TCTC? 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 $4,000 more per year than TCTC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,400 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Tri County Technical College graduates have a $4,375 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($7,625 vs. $12,000).
  • Among borrowers, TCTC graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($78 vs. $124).
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former TCTC students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 43%)

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.