TCTC vs. Trident Technical College

Comparable Facts

Compare Tri County Technical College in Pendleton, 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 TCTC based on total student enrollment (13,552 students vs. 5,890 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Tri County Technical College is located in Pendleton, SC (Rural Fringe setting); Trident Technical College is in Charleston, SC (Small City setting).
• Tri County Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Trident Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Tri County Technical College 20:1; Trident Technical College 21:1.

TCTC vs. Trident Technical College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, TCTC 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 TCTC ($1,818 vs. $16,927).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Trident Technical College are 59.1% lower than at Tri County Technical College ($9,600 vs. $23,472).
• Tri County Technical College is 19.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Trident Technical College (about $981 more per year; $6,031.00 vs. $5,050.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 37.1% higher at TCTC than at Trident Technical College (about $3,195 more per year; $11,815.00 vs. $8,620.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Trident Technical College than at Tri County Technical College (93% vs. 91%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Trident Technical College students is 33.6% larger than aid received by Tri County Technical College students ($10,831 vs. $8,105).

TCTC vs. Trident Technical College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, TCTC 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 TCTC.

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

TCTC vs. Trident Technical College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for TCTC 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 $3,500 more per year than TCTC graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,900 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Tri County Technical College graduates have a $8,147 lower median loan debt than Trident Technical College graduates ($7,625 vs. $15,772).
• Among borrowers, TCTC graduates have an estimated $85 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Trident Technical College graduates ($78 vs. $163).
• More TCTC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Trident Technical College students, three years after graduation. (43% 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.