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South Carolina Colleges

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South Carolina Trade Schools

69 Colleges
$56,172 Avg 4-Year Tuition (In-State)
$27,498 Avg 4-Year Student Loan

In terms of yearly trade school graduations, South Carolina is ranked #30 in the country with 9,537 degrees handed out in 2021. Students who are able to take advantage of in-state tuition will only pay an average of $14,043 per year to get their degree at a college in South Carolina, while out of state students will pay an average of $18,271 per year.

An estimated 61% of college students in South Carolina take out loans, with the average loan amount being $6,875 per year.

Learn more about the most popular schools below:

#1

Piedmont Technical College

Greenwood, South Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$5,315 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
23% Freshmen Loans

The total student population at Piedmont Technical College is 4,712, which includes 1,673 full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 15 to 1.

Roughly 23% of students at Piedmont Technical College take out loans to pay for college. The typical student loan amount is $5,704 a year. The student loan default rate of 5.6% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

A typical bachelor’s-degree holder from this school earns an average of $29,247 during the early-career years.

#2

Greenville Technical College

Greenville, South Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$5,882 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
13% Freshmen Loans

There are 4,387 full-time undergraduates at GTC, and 10,536 students altogether. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 14 to 1.

Approximately 13% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The typical student loan amount is $4,741 a year. The school reports a student loan default rate of 5.4% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from GTC is $32,376.

#3

Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Conway, South Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$5,356 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
33% Freshmen Loans

There are 6,409 students at Horry-Georgetown Technical College in total, 3,056 are full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 20 to 1.

Roughly 33% of students at Horry-Georgetown Technical College take out loans to pay for college. The typical student loan amount is $5,217 a year. The student loan default rate of 6.8% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

Students who graduate from Horry-Georgetown Technical College with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $29,194 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#4

Tri-County Technical College

Pendleton, South Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$5,936 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
22% Freshmen Loans

There are 5,582 students at TCTC in total, 3,120 are full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 19 to 1.

22% of TCTC students take out loans to afford college costs. The typical student loan amount is $6,843 a year. TCTC has a 1.8% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from TCTC is $33,921.

#5

Trident Technical College

Charleston, South Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$5,059 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
19% Freshmen Loans

There are 11,650 students at Trident Technical College in total, 4,225 are full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 19 to 1.

Roughly 19% of students at Trident Technical College take out loans to pay for college. The average amount of student loans is $3,294 a year. The student loan default rate of 4.9% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from Trident Technical College is $30,514.

#6

York Technical College

Rock Hill, South Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$5,882 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
16% Freshmen Loans

There are 4,178 students at York Technical College in total, 2,036 are full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 18 to 1.

16% of York Technical College students take out loans to afford college costs. The average amount of student loans is $3,763 a year. The school reports a student loan default rate of 2.4% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

A typical bachelor’s-degree holder from this school earns an average of $30,976 during the early-career years.

#7

Arclabs

Piedmont, South Carolina
Private for-profit Public vs. Private
81% Freshmen Loans

There are 315 full-time undergraduates at Arclabs, and 552 students altogether. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 17 to 1.

Roughly 81% of students at Arclabs take out loans to pay for college. The typical student loan amount is $7,729 a year. The student loan default rate of 4.5% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

#8

Spartanburg Community College

Spartanburg, South Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$6,030 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
7% Freshmen Loans

There are 4,108 students at Spartanburg Community College in total, 1,850 are full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 20 to 1.

Approximately 7% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The average amount of student loans is $3,428 a year. Spartanburg Community College has a 2.7% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

A typical bachelor’s-degree holder from this school earns an average of $31,450 during the early-career years.

#9

Midlands Technical College

West Columbia, South Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$5,916 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
18% Freshmen Loans

There are 3,770 full-time undergraduates at MTC, and 8,794 students altogether. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 17 to 1.

Approximately 18% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The average amount of student loans is $4,823 a year. MTC has a 2.8% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

Students who graduate from MTC with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $31,177 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#10

Florence-Darlington Technical College

Florence, South Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$4,900 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
13% Freshmen Loans

There are 3,315 students at Florence-Darlington Technical College in total, 1,259 are full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 16 to 1.

Approximately 13% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The typical student loan amount is $3,548 a year. The school reports a student loan default rate of 4.6% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

Students who graduate from Florence-Darlington Technical College with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $25,495 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#11

Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College

Orangeburg, South Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$5,954 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
7% Freshmen Loans

There are 646 full-time undergraduates at OCtech, and 2,257 students altogether. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1.

Approximately 7% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The typical student loan amount is $3,515 a year. OCtech has a 4.7% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

Students who graduate from OCtech with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $29,154 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#12

Miller-Motte College Charleston

Charleston, South Carolina
Private for-profit Public vs. Private
42% Freshmen Loans

The total student population at Miller-Motte College Charleston is 309, which includes 299 full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 16 to 1.

Approximately 42% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The average amount of student loans is $9,109 a year. The student loan default rate of 3.5% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

A typical bachelor’s-degree holder from this school earns an average of $25,392 during the early-career years.

#12

Miller-Motte College Conway

Conway, South Carolina
Private for-profit Public vs. Private
47% Freshmen Loans

There are 323 students at MMC Conway in total, 317 are full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 26 to 1.

Approximately 47% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The typical student loan amount is $8,199 a year. MMC Conway has a 3.5% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from MMC Conway is $25,392.

#14

Central Carolina Technical College

Sumter, South Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$6,594 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
3% Freshmen Loans

There are 2,885 students at Central Carolina in total, 904 are full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 12 to 1.

Roughly 3% of students at Central Carolina take out loans to pay for college. The typical student loan amount is $4,414 a year. The school reports a student loan default rate of 5.3% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

A typical bachelor’s-degree holder from this school earns an average of $27,203 during the early-career years.

#15

Southeastern Esthetics Institute

Columbia, South Carolina
Private for-profit Public vs. Private
60% Freshmen Loans

There are 123 students at Southeastern Esthetics Institute in total, 112 are full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 20 to 1.

60% of Southeastern Esthetics Institute students take out loans to afford college costs. The typical student loan amount is $5,140 a year.

#16

Fortis College - Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina
Private for-profit Public vs. Private
$14,872 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
75% Freshmen Loans

There are 569 students at Fortis College - Columbia in total, 568 are full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 21 to 1.

Roughly 75% of students at Fortis College - Columbia take out loans to pay for college. The average amount of student loans is $8,297 a year. The school reports a student loan default rate of 4.1% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

A typical bachelor’s-degree holder from this school earns an average of $30,440 during the early-career years.

#17

Southeastern College - Charleston

North Charleston, South Carolina
Private for-profit Public vs. Private
$23,324 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
80% Freshmen Loans

The total student population at Southeastern College - Charleston is 200, which includes 111 full-time undergraduates. Students tend to stick around at Southeastern College - Charleston. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Around 100% of students who apply get accepted. Around 5% of accepted students are men, and 95% are women.

Roughly 80% of students at Southeastern College - Charleston take out loans to pay for college. The typical student loan amount is $13,748 a year. Southeastern College - Charleston has a 5.0% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

A typical bachelor’s-degree holder from this school earns an average of $30,314 during the early-career years.

#18

Clemson University

Clemson, South Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$15,558 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
43% Freshmen Loans

There are 26,406 students at Clemson in total, 20,868 of which are undergraduates, and of those, 20,021 are full-time. Clemson has a freshman retention rate of 94%, which is a good sign that once students arrive at the school, they want to stay.

About 49% of students who apply get accepted. Around 37% of accepted students are men, and 63% are women.

43% of Clemson students take out loans to afford college costs. The typical student loan amount is $9,843 a year. The school reports a student loan default rate of 0.6% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from Clemson is $56,107.

#19

Aiken Technical College

Graniteville, South Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$5,306 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
6% Freshmen Loans

There are 608 full-time undergraduates at Aiken Technical College, and 1,925 students altogether. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 12 to 1.

Roughly 6% of students at Aiken Technical College take out loans to pay for college. The typical student loan amount is $5,597 a year. The student loan default rate of 4.0% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

Students who graduate from Aiken Technical College with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $30,855 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#20

Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Goose Creek

Goose Creek, South Carolina
Private for-profit Public vs. Private
75% Freshmen Loans

There are 62 full-time undergraduates at Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology, and 157 students altogether. The freshman retention rate at Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology is 100%, which is great when compared to the national average of 68%.

Approximately 75% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The average amount of student loans is $6,550 a year. The school reports a student loan default rate of 1.2% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

A typical bachelor’s-degree holder from this school earns an average of $19,673 during the early-career years.

Private for-profit Public vs. Private
74% Freshmen Loans

The total student population at Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Florence is 156, which includes 81 full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 20 to 1.

Roughly 74% of students at Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Florence take out loans to pay for college. The average amount of student loans is $7,284 a year. The school reports a student loan default rate of 2.4% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Florence is $21,071.

#22

Paul Mitchell the School Charleston

North Charleston, South Carolina
Private for-profit Public vs. Private
80% Freshmen Loans

There are 147 full-time undergraduates at Paul Mitchell the School Charleston, and 209 students altogether. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 14 to 1.

80% of Paul Mitchell the School Charleston students take out loans to afford college costs. The average amount of student loans is $8,351 a year. The student loan default rate of 4.2% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from Paul Mitchell the School Charleston is $22,949.

#23

Southeastern College - Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina
Private for-profit Public vs. Private
$23,324 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
91% Freshmen Loans

There are 193 students at Southeastern College - Columbia in total, 112 are full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1.

Around 100% of students who apply get accepted. Of the accepted students, 14% are men and 86% are women.

Approximately 91% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The average amount of student loans is $12,823 a year. Southeastern College - Columbia has a 3.6% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

A typical bachelor’s-degree holder from this school earns an average of $25,484 during the early-career years.

Private for-profit Public vs. Private
68% Freshmen Loans

The total student population at Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Rock Hill is 161, which includes 66 full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 20 to 1.

Approximately 68% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The typical student loan amount is $6,708 a year. The student loan default rate of 0.6% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

A typical bachelor’s-degree holder from this school earns an average of $18,322 during the early-career years.

#25

Paul Mitchell the School Columbia

West Columbia, South Carolina
Private for-profit Public vs. Private
85% Freshmen Loans

There are 147 full-time undergraduates at Paul Mitchell the School Columbia, and 199 students altogether. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 15 to 1.

Approximately 85% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The average amount of student loans is $8,566 a year. Paul Mitchell the School Columbia has a 4.2% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

Students who graduate from Paul Mitchell the School Columbia with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $22,949 during the early years of their career after graduation.

Other South Carolina Trade Schools

Rank School Yearly Graduations
26 Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Spartanburg 86
27 Technical College of the Lowcountry 82
28 Academy of Hair Technology 81
28 Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Columbia 81
30 Northeastern Technical College 79
31 Francis Marion University 78
32 Charleston Cosmetology Institute 71
33 Paul Mitchell the School Greenville 68
34 Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-North Augusta 59
35 Strand College of Hair Design 55
36 Construction Training Center 50
37 Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Greenville 48
38 South University, Columbia 46
39 Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology and Nails-Columbia 43
40 Williamsburg Technical College 39
41 Bob Jones University 36
42 Denmark Technical College 35
43 North Greenville University 34
44 Newberry College 29
45 Converse College 25
45 Limestone College 25
47 VSKI Cosmetology School 24
48 University of South Carolina - Columbia 21
49 Medical University of South Carolina 19
50 Aiken School of Cosmetology and Barbering 16
50 South Carolina State University 16
52 Coastal Carolina University 15
53 University of South Carolina - Upstate 14
53 Barber Tech Academy 14
53 Academy for Careers and Technology 14
56 Charleston Southern University 13
56 Charzanne Beauty College 13
58 LeGrand Institute of Cosmetology Inc 12
59 Morris College 11
59 Winthrop University 11
59 B-Unique Beauty and Barber Academy 11
62 Top of the Line Barber College 10
63 Erskine College 9
64 Columbia College 4
65 Benedict College 3
66 Coker University 1
67 Anderson University South Carolina 0
67 Claflin University 0
67 Southern Wesleyan University 0

References

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