TCL vs. Spartanburg Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Spartanburg Community College is larger than TCL based on total student enrollment (6,653 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); Spartanburg Community College is in Spartanburg, SC (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Technical College of the Lowcountry is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Spartanburg Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Technical College of the Lowcountry 14:1; Spartanburg Community College 16:1.

TCL vs. Spartanburg Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, TCL or Spartanburg Community 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 Spartanburg Community College than TCL ($3,175 vs. $15,776).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Spartanburg Community College are 74% lower than at Technical College of the Lowcountry ($6,070 vs. $23,382).
• Technical College of the Lowcountry is 8.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Spartanburg Community College (about $533 more per year; $6,756.00 vs. $6,223.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.6% higher at TCL than at Spartanburg Community College (about $1,781 more per year; $11,916.00 vs. $10,135.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Spartanburg Community College than at Technical College of the Lowcountry (95% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Spartanburg Community College students is 60.9% larger than aid received by Technical College of the Lowcountry students ($8,100 vs. $5,033).

TCL vs. Spartanburg Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, TCL or Spartanburg Community 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 Spartanburg Community College 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; Spartanburg Community College - Open admission.

TCL vs. Spartanburg Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for TCL and Spartanburg Community 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 Spartanburg Community College earn a median of about $100 more per year than TCL graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,700 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Spartanburg Community College graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than TCL graduates ($3,500 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, Spartanburg Community College graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than TCL graduates ($36 vs. $77).
• More Spartanburg Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former TCL students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 35%)

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.