TCL vs. MTC

Deciding between Technical College of the Lowcountry and Midlands 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
  • TCL Beaufort, SC
  • MTC West Columbia, SC
  • Setting
  • TCL Remote Town
  • MTC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • TCL 2,461
  • MTC 9,226
  • Type
  • TCL Public 2 Year
  • MTC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • TCL
  • MTC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • TCL -
  • MTC -
  • Status
  • TCL Non-profit
  • MTC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • TCL
  • MTC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • TCL $6,156
  • MTC $5,100
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • TCL $11,916
  • MTC $14,700
  • Room & Board
  • TCL $23,382
  • MTC $24,759
  • Average Net Price
  • TCL $15,776
  • MTC $5,675
  • Average Grant Aid
  • TCL $5,033
  • MTC $7,867
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • TCL 94%
  • MTC 90%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • TCL -
  • MTC -
  • Admitted
  • TCL -
  • MTC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • TCL Open
  • MTC Open
  • Enrolled
  • TCL Open
  • MTC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • TCL
  • MTC
  • Typical ACT score
  • TCL
  • MTC
  • Average High School GPA
  • TCL -
  • MTC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • TCL -
  • MTC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • TCL Unavailable
  • MTC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • TCL
  • MTC
  • ACT Range
  • TCL
  • MTC
  • SAT Range
  • TCL
  • MTC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • TCL Open admission
  • MTC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • TCL
  • MTC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • TCL 14:1
  • MTC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • TCL
    • Health Professions (25%)
    • Engineering Technology (23%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (15%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • MTC
    • Health Professions (41%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (9%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • TCL -
  • MTC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • TCL $29,600
  • MTC $32,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • TCL 35%
  • MTC 34%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • TCL $7,500
  • MTC $10,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • TCL $77
  • MTC $103

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • TCL 34%
  • MTC 38%
  • % Women
  • TCL 66%
  • MTC 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • TCL High
  • MTC High
  • HBCU
  • TCL No
  • MTC No
  • % White
  • TCL 49%
  • MTC 51%
  • % Asian
  • TCL 1%
  • MTC 2%
  • % Black
  • TCL 35%
  • MTC 36%
  • % Hispanic
  • TCL 11%
  • MTC 4%
  • % Native American
  • TCL 0%
  • MTC 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • TCL 0%
  • MTC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • TCL 2%
  • MTC 3%
  • % International
  • TCL 0%
  • MTC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • TCL 2%
  • MTC 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • TCL 94%
  • MTC 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • TCL 6%
  • MTC 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Technical College of the Lowcountry in Beaufort, SC with Midlands Technical College in West Columbia, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Midlands Technical College is larger than TCL based on total student enrollment (9,226 students vs. 2,461 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Technical College of the Lowcountry is located in Beaufort, SC (Remote Town setting); Midlands Technical College is in West Columbia, SC (Large Suburban setting).
  • Technical College of the Lowcountry is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Midlands Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Technical College of the Lowcountry 14:1; Midlands Technical College 15:1.

TCL vs. MTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, TCL or MTC? 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 Midlands Technical College than TCL ($5,675 vs. $15,776).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Technical College of the Lowcountry are 5.6% lower than at Midlands Technical College ($23,382 vs. $24,759).
  • Technical College of the Lowcountry is 7.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than MTC (about $456 more per year; $6,756.00 vs. $6,300.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.4% higher at MTC than at Technical College of the Lowcountry (about $2,784 more per year; $14,700.00 vs. $11,916.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Technical College of the Lowcountry than at Midlands Technical College (94% vs. 90%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Midlands Technical College students is 56.3% larger than aid received by Technical College of the Lowcountry students ($7,867 vs. $5,033).

TCL vs. MTC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, TCL or MTC? 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 MTC and TCL.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: TCL - Open admission; MTC - Open admission.

TCL vs. MTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for TCL and MTC? 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 Midlands Technical College earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than TCL graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,200 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Technical College of the Lowcountry graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than MTC graduates ($7,500 vs. $10,000).
  • Among borrowers, TCL graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MTC graduates ($77 vs. $103).
  • More TCL graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MTC students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 34%)

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.