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Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in South Carolina

2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in South Carolina

10 Schools Ranked
$5,623 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$17,331 Avg Student Debt

There are so many trade school programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in South Carolina ranking. Our analysis looked at 10 schools in South Carolina to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Trade Associate Degree Schools in South Carolina

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Trident Technical College

Charleston, South Carolina
1,438 Total Awards
$5,059 Average Tuition & Fees
$19,444 Avg Student Debt

Our 2023 rankings named Trident Technical College the best school in South Carolina for trade school students working on their associate degree. This fairly large public school is located in Charleston, South Carolina, and it awarded 1,438 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Trident Technical College is $5,059. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,606. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,444 in student loans.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Trident Technical College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 75% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Trident Technical College Report

#2

Spartanburg Community College

Spartanburg, South Carolina
617 Total Awards
$6,030 Average Tuition & Fees
$9,430 Avg Student Debt

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Spartanburg Community College is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree. Spartanburg, South Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 617 students in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from South Carolina pay an average of $6,030 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Spartanburg Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,822. On average, associate degree students take out $9,430 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Spartanburg Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 57% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Spartanburg Community College

#3

Greenville Technical College

Greenville, South Carolina
1,217 Total Awards
$5,882 Average Tuition & Fees
$19,101 Avg Student Debt

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Greenville Technical College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in South Carolina list. Greenville, South Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,217 students in 2021-2022.

Students from South Carolina who attend GTC full time pay an average of $5,882 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,202. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,101 in student loans.

One thing to take note of is that GTC does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 82% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#4

Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College

Orangeburg, South Carolina
258 Total Awards
$5,954 Average Tuition & Fees
$10,798 Avg Student Debt

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree. OCtech is located in Orangeburg, South Carolina and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 258 associate degrees to qualified students.

In-state students pay an average of $5,954 in tuition and fees if they attend OCtech full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,970. Associate Degree recipients from OCtech accumulate an average of $10,798 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

OCtech does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 84% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Full Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Report

#5

Florence-Darlington Technical College

Florence, South Carolina
315 Total Awards
$4,900 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Florence-Darlington Technical College is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree. Florence-Darlington Technical College is a public institution located in Florence, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 315 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Florence-Darlington Technical College is $4,900. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,772.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Florence-Darlington Technical College does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 65% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Full Florence-Darlington Technical College Report

#6

Piedmont Technical College

Greenwood, South Carolina
631 Total Awards
$5,315 Average Tuition & Fees
$18,799 Avg Student Debt

Piedmont Technical College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in South Carolina list. Located in Greenwood, South Carolina, the medium-sized public school handed out 631 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.

Students from South Carolina who attend Piedmont Technical College full time pay an average of $5,315 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,593. Associate Degree recipients from Piedmont Technical College accumulate an average of $18,799 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Piedmont Technical College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 68% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#7

Midlands Technical College

West Columbia, South Carolina
888 Total Awards
$5,916 Average Tuition & Fees
$15,672 Avg Student Debt

Midlands Technical College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. This medium-sized public school is located in West Columbia, South Carolina, and it awarded 888 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $5,916 in tuition and fees if they attend MTC full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $13,812. Associate Degree recipients from MTC accumulate an average of $15,672 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since MTC does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 76% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#8

Tri-County Technical College

Pendleton, South Carolina
820 Total Awards
$5,936 Average Tuition & Fees
$10,725 Avg Student Debt

Tri-County Technical College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Pendleton, South Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 820 students in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from South Carolina pay an average of $5,936 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend TCTC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,832. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,725 in student loans.

One thing to take note of is that TCTC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 46% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Tri-County Technical College Report

#9

Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Conway, South Carolina
925 Total Awards
$5,356 Average Tuition & Fees
$18,838 Avg Student Debt

Horry-Georgetown Technical College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in South Carolina ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Conway, South Carolina, and it awarded 925 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

Students from South Carolina who attend Horry-Georgetown Technical College full time pay an average of $5,356 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,593. Associate Degree recipients from Horry-Georgetown Technical College accumulate an average of $18,838 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Online courses are available at Horry-Georgetown Technical College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 72% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#10

York Technical College

Rock Hill, South Carolina
673 Total Awards
$5,882 Average Tuition & Fees
$10,385 Avg Student Debt

York Technical College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in South Carolina ranking. This small public school is located in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and it awarded 673 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

Students from South Carolina who attend York Technical College full time pay an average of $5,882 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,824. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,385 in student loans.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since York Technical College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 80% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Full York Technical College Report

View Best Trade Associate Degree Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 10 schools only.

References

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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