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2026 Best Trade Schools in South Carolina
Looking for the best Trade degree programs in South Carolina? We have ranked 90 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Trade College analyzed 78 schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Trade Degree Schools in South Carolina
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Clemson University tops our 2026 ranking of the best Trade degree schools in South Carolina. Located in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, compared with $40,866 for out-of-state students. The median Trade program debt is $23,783. More on Clemson University
A rank of #2 makes Trident Technical College one of the top choices in South Carolina. This public school is set in Charleston, SC. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,546, while out-of-state students pay about $8,620. Typical Trade student debt is $18,116. See the full Trident Technical College profile
The strong Trade programs at South University Columbia earned it the #3 place in South Carolina. Based in Columbia, SC, South University Columbia is a private for-profit institution. South University Columbia graduates 21% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $17,895 in tuition and fees. South University Columbia Trade students take on a median of $48,920 in debt. Read more about South University Columbia
Spartanburg Community College came in at #4 on this year's Trade ranking in South Carolina. Spartanburg Community College is a public school based in Spartanburg, SC. In-state tuition and fees average $5,071, while out-of-state students pay about $10,135. Graduates carry a median of $10,148 in student loans. Get the full Spartanburg Community College report
Charleston Southern University came in at #5 on this year's Trade ranking in South Carolina. This private not-for-profit school is set in Charleston, SC. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,520. Students borrow a median of $27,569 to complete their Trade program here. See the full Charleston Southern University profile
University Of South Carolina Columbia landed the #6 spot in South Carolina this year. Based in Columbia, SC, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. Students from in state pay about $12,688 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,472 to complete their Trade program here. Read the full report on University Of South Carolina Columbia
Greenville Technical College placed #7 among Trade schools in South Carolina. This public school is set in Greenville, SC. Students from in state pay about $5,495 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,775. Typical Trade student debt is $16,411. More on Greenville Technical College
Newberry College came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in Newberry, SC, Newberry College is a private not-for-profit institution. Newberry College graduates 45% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,100. Newberry College Trade students take on a median of $27,729 in debt. Read more about Newberry College
Piedmont Technical College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Set in Greenwood, SC, Piedmont Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,775 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,923 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,652 to complete their Trade program here. Read more about Piedmont Technical College
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College placed #10 among Trade schools in South Carolina. Based in Orangeburg, SC, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,210 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,354 for out-of-state students. Typical Trade student debt is $18,583. Read the full report on Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
Miller Motte Technical College North Charleston landed the #11 spot in South Carolina this year. Located in Charleston, SC, Miller Motte Technical College North Charleston is a private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $24,182 to complete their Trade program here. More on Miller Motte Technical College North Charleston
Tri County Technical College landed the #12 spot in South Carolina this year. Tri County Technical College is a public school based in Pendleton, SC. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,448, while out-of-state students pay about $12,007. Typical Trade student debt is $15,787. More on Tri County Technical College
Florence Darlington Technical College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Based in Florence, SC, Florence Darlington Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,636, with out-of-state students paying around $6,772. Graduates carry a median of $7,230 in student loans. More on Florence Darlington Technical College
Aiken Technical College did well this year, earning the #14 position. Aiken Technical College is a public school based in Graniteville, SC. Students from in state pay about $5,174 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,924. Graduates carry a median of $17,884 in student loans. Read the full report on Aiken Technical College
Central Carolina Technical College did well this year, earning the #15 position. Central Carolina Technical College is a public school based in Sumter, SC. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,715, with out-of-state students paying around $9,016. Central Carolina Technical College Trade students take on a median of $15,750 in debt. Read the full report on Central Carolina Technical College
Midlands Technical College placed #16 among Trade schools in South Carolina. Based in West Columbia, SC, Midlands Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,100, with out-of-state students paying around $14,700. Graduates carry a median of $17,611 in student loans. Read the full report on Midlands Technical College
Horry Georgetown Technical College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Conway, SC. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,518, compared with $10,978 for out-of-state students. Typical Trade student debt is $19,172. Get the full Horry Georgetown Technical College report
York Technical College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Set in Rock Hill, SC, York Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,036, while out-of-state students pay about $13,340. York Technical College Trade students take on a median of $10,907 in debt. Read more about York Technical College
Technical College Of The Lowcountry placed #19 among Trade schools in South Carolina. Set in Beaufort, SC, Technical College Of The Lowcountry is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,156, with out-of-state students paying around $11,916. Students borrow a median of $17,110 to complete their Trade program here. Read the full report on Technical College Of The Lowcountry
South Carolina State University did well this year, earning the #20 position. This public school is set in Orangeburg, SC. South Carolina State University graduates 37% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,060, with out-of-state students paying around $21,750. The median Trade program debt is $31,740. More on South Carolina State University
North Greenville University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on North Greenville University
Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology North Augusta placed #22 among Trade schools in South Carolina. Read more about Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology North Augusta
Allen University
Allen University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Get the full Allen University report
Voorhees College
Voorhees College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full Voorhees College profile
Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Florence ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read more about Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Florence
Rest of the Top 50 Best Trade Degree Schools in South Carolina
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Top Of The Line Barber College came in at #26 in this year's ranking. More on Top Of The Line Barber College
Strayer University South Carolina ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full Strayer University South Carolina profile
University Of South Carolina Aiken ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read more about University Of South Carolina Aiken
Southeastern Institute Charleston ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. More on Southeastern Institute Charleston
University Of South Carolina Upstate placed #30 among Trade schools in South Carolina. More on University Of South Carolina Upstate
College Of Charleston ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read more about College Of Charleston
Clinton Junior College placed #32 among Trade schools in South Carolina. Read more about Clinton Junior College
Personal Touch Beauty And Barber College did well this year, earning the #33 position. Read more about Personal Touch Beauty And Barber College
Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach did well this year, earning the #34 position. More on Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach
Paul Mitchell The School Columbia landed the #35 spot in South Carolina this year. More on Paul Mitchell The School Columbia
University Of South Carolina Beaufort did well this year, earning the #36 position. Read the full report on University Of South Carolina Beaufort
Academy Of Hair Technology ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read the full report on Academy Of Hair Technology
Academy For Careers And Technology landed the #38 spot in South Carolina this year. Get the full Academy For Careers And Technology report
Legrand Institute Of Cosmetology Inc ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full Legrand Institute Of Cosmetology Inc profile
Bob Jones University landed the #40 spot in South Carolina this year. Read the full report on Bob Jones University
Limestone College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. More on Limestone College
Citadel Military College Of South Carolina placed #42 among Trade schools in South Carolina. Read more about Citadel Military College Of South Carolina
Spartanburg Methodist College did well this year, earning the #43 position. More on Spartanburg Methodist College
Paul Mitchell The School Greenville placed #44 among Trade schools in South Carolina. See the full Paul Mitchell The School Greenville profile
Barber Tech Academy Columbia placed #45 among Trade schools in South Carolina. Read more about Barber Tech Academy Columbia
Wofford College
Wofford College placed #46 among Trade schools in South Carolina. More on Wofford College
Lander University landed the #47 spot in South Carolina this year. Read the full report on Lander University
Fortis College Columbia came in at #48 in this year's ranking. More on Fortis College Columbia
Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology And Nails Columbia ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology And Nails Columbia profile
Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Goose Creek came in at #50 in this year's ranking. More on Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Goose Creek
More Trade Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 78 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 90 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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