University of South Carolina-Lancaster vs. TCTC

Deciding between University of South Carolina Lancaster 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
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster Lancaster, SC
  • TCTC Pendleton, SC
  • Setting
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster Distant Town
  • TCTC Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 2,687
  • TCTC 5,890
  • Type
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster Public 2 Year
  • TCTC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster
  • TCTC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster -
  • TCTC -
  • Status
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster Non-profit
  • TCTC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster
  • TCTC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster $7,558
  • TCTC $4,448
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster $18,238
  • TCTC $11,815
  • Room & Board
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster $6,708
  • TCTC $23,472
  • Average Net Price
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster $11,257
  • TCTC $16,927
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster $7,245
  • TCTC $8,105
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 93%
  • TCTC 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 628
  • TCTC -
  • Admitted
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 524
  • TCTC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 83.4%
  • TCTC Open
  • Enrolled
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 66.2%
  • TCTC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 1000
  • TCTC
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 18
  • TCTC
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster -
  • TCTC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster -
  • TCTC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster Unavailable
  • TCTC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster
  • TCTC
  • ACT Range
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 16/20
  • TCTC
  • SAT Range
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 910/1090
  • TCTC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster Test-free
  • TCTC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster
  • TCTC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 24:1
  • TCTC 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (67%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (17%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • TCTC
    • Health Professions (28%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Precision Production Trades (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster -
  • TCTC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster $51,700
  • TCTC $30,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 69%
  • TCTC 43%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster $23,250
  • TCTC $7,625
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster $240
  • TCTC $78

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 42%
  • TCTC 46%
  • % Women
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 58%
  • TCTC 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster Medium
  • TCTC Low
  • HBCU
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster No
  • TCTC No
  • % White
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 59%
  • TCTC 80%
  • % Asian
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 1%
  • TCTC 1%
  • % Black
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 16%
  • TCTC 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 4%
  • TCTC 5%
  • % Native American
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 0%
  • TCTC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 0%
  • TCTC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 3%
  • TCTC 3%
  • % International
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 1%
  • TCTC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 16%
  • TCTC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 88%
  • TCTC 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster 7%
  • TCTC 12%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster No
  • TCTC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster No
  • TCTC No
  • Meal Plan
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster No
  • TCTC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster No
  • TCTC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster No
  • TCTC No
  • Learn More
  • University of South Carolina-Lancaster Details
  • TCTC Details

Comparable Facts

Compare University of South Carolina Lancaster in Lancaster, 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 University of South Carolina-Lancaster based on total student enrollment (5,890 students vs. 2,687 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of South Carolina Lancaster is located in Lancaster, SC (Distant Town setting); Tri County Technical College is in Pendleton, SC (Rural Fringe setting).
  • University of South Carolina Lancaster is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Tri County Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of South Carolina Lancaster 24:1; Tri County Technical College 20:1.

University of South Carolina-Lancaster vs. TCTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of South Carolina-Lancaster 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 University of South Carolina Lancaster than TCTC ($11,257 vs. $16,927).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Lancaster are 71.4% lower than at Tri County Technical College ($6,708 vs. $23,472).
  • University of South Carolina Lancaster is 25.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than TCTC (about $1,527 more per year; $7,558.00 vs. $6,031.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 54.4% higher at University of South Carolina-Lancaster than at Tri County Technical College (about $6,423 more per year; $18,238.00 vs. $11,815.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of South Carolina Lancaster than at Tri County Technical College (93% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tri County Technical College students is 11.9% larger than aid received by University of South Carolina Lancaster students ($8,105 vs. $7,245).

University of South Carolina-Lancaster vs. TCTC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of South Carolina-Lancaster 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 University of South Carolina-Lancaster.

  • Tri County Technical College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of South Carolina Lancaster 910/1090.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of South Carolina Lancaster 16/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of South Carolina-Lancaster - Test-free; TCTC - Open admission.

University of South Carolina-Lancaster vs. TCTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of South Carolina-Lancaster 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 University of South Carolina Lancaster earn a median of about $21,300 more per year than TCTC graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,700 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Tri County Technical College graduates have a $15,625 lower median loan debt than University of South Carolina-Lancaster graduates ($7,625 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, TCTC graduates have an estimated $162 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of South Carolina-Lancaster graduates ($78 vs. $240).
  • More University of South Carolina-Lancaster graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former TCTC students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.