TCL vs. TCTC

Deciding between Technical College of the Lowcountry 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
  • TCL Beaufort, SC
  • TCTC Pendleton, SC
  • Setting
  • TCL Remote Town
  • TCTC Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • TCL 2,461
  • TCTC 5,890
  • Type
  • TCL Public 2 Year
  • TCTC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • TCL
  • TCTC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • TCL -
  • TCTC -
  • Status
  • TCL Non-profit
  • TCTC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • TCL
  • TCTC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • TCL $6,156
  • TCTC $4,448
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • TCL $11,916
  • TCTC $11,815
  • Room & Board
  • TCL $23,382
  • TCTC $23,472
  • Average Net Price
  • TCL $15,776
  • TCTC $16,927
  • Average Grant Aid
  • TCL $5,033
  • TCTC $8,105
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • TCL 94%
  • TCTC 91%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • TCL 14:1
  • TCTC 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • TCL
    • Health Professions (25%)
    • Engineering Technology (23%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (15%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • TCTC
    • Health Professions (28%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Precision Production Trades (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • TCL -
  • TCTC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • TCL $29,600
  • TCTC $30,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • TCL 35%
  • TCTC 43%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • TCL $7,500
  • TCTC $7,625
  • Median Loan Payment
  • TCL $77
  • TCTC $78

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • TCL 34%
  • TCTC 46%
  • % Women
  • TCL 66%
  • TCTC 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • TCL High
  • TCTC Low
  • HBCU
  • TCL No
  • TCTC No
  • % White
  • TCL 49%
  • TCTC 80%
  • % Asian
  • TCL 1%
  • TCTC 1%
  • % Black
  • TCL 35%
  • TCTC 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • TCL 11%
  • TCTC 5%
  • % Native American
  • TCL 0%
  • TCTC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • TCL 0%
  • TCTC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • TCL 2%
  • TCTC 3%
  • % International
  • TCL 0%
  • TCTC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • TCL 2%
  • TCTC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • TCL 94%
  • TCTC 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • TCL 6%
  • TCTC 12%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Technical College of the Lowcountry in Beaufort, 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 TCL based on total student enrollment (5,890 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); Tri County Technical College is in Pendleton, SC (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Technical College of the Lowcountry is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Tri County Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Technical College of the Lowcountry 14:1; Tri County Technical College 20:1.

TCL vs. TCTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, TCL 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 Technical College of the Lowcountry than TCTC ($15,776 vs. $16,927).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Technical College of the Lowcountry are 0.4% lower than at Tri County Technical College ($23,382 vs. $23,472).
  • Technical College of the Lowcountry is 12% more expensive for in-state tuition than TCTC (about $725 more per year; $6,756.00 vs. $6,031.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.9% higher at TCL than at Tri County Technical College (about $101 more per year; $11,916.00 vs. $11,815.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Technical College of the Lowcountry than at Tri County Technical College (94% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tri County Technical College students is 61% larger than aid received by Technical College of the Lowcountry students ($8,105 vs. $5,033).

TCL vs. TCTC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, TCL 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 TCL.

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

TCL vs. TCTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for TCL 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 Tri County Technical College earn a median of about $800 more per year than TCL graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,400 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Technical College of the Lowcountry graduates have a $125 lower median loan debt than TCTC graduates ($7,500 vs. $7,625).
  • Among borrowers, TCL graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than TCTC graduates ($77 vs. $78).
  • More TCTC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former TCL students, three years after graduation. (43% 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.