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Best Trade Schools in South Carolina

2023 Best Trade Schools in South Carolina

20 Schools Ranked
$38,134 Average Earnings
$27,933 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 assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Best Trade Schools in South Carolina ranking. Our analysis looked at 20 schools in South Carolina to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Trade Schools in South Carolina

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Clemson University

Clemson, South Carolina
7,469 Total Awards

Our analysis found Clemson University to be the best school for trade school students in South Carolina. This large public school is located in Clemson, South Carolina, and it awarded 7,469 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Clemson University Report

#2

Trident Technical College

Charleston, South Carolina
2,581 Total Awards

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Trident Technical College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in South Carolina list. Trident Technical College is a fairly large public school located in Charleston, South Carolina that handed out 2,581 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Trident Technical College Report

#3

South University, Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina
154 Total Awards

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means South University, Columbia is a great place for trade school students. South University, Columbia is a very small private for-profit school located in Columbia, South Carolina that handed out 154 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#4

Spartanburg Community College

Spartanburg, South Carolina
1,057 Total Awards

The excellent programs at Spartanburg Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade schools in South Carolina. Spartanburg Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Spartanburg, South Carolina that handed out 1,057 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Spartanburg Community College Report

#5

Charleston Southern University

Charleston, South Carolina
800 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Charleston Southern University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Trade Schools in South Carolina list. Located in Charleston, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 800 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Charleston Southern University

#6

University of South Carolina - Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina
10,045 Total Awards

With a ranking of #6, University of South Carolina - Columbia did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Columbia, South Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 10,045 students in 2021-2022.

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#7

Greenville Technical College

Greenville, South Carolina
2,125 Total Awards

Greenville Technical College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in South Carolina list. This fairly large public school is located in Greenville, South Carolina, and it awarded 2,125 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#8

Newberry College

Newberry, South Carolina
271 Total Awards

Newberry College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in South Carolina ranking. Newberry, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 271 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Newberry College

#9

Piedmont Technical College

Greenwood, South Carolina
1,653 Total Awards

Piedmont Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #9 on the list. Piedmont Technical College is a public institution located in Greenwood, South Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,653 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Piedmont Technical College

#10

Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College

Orangeburg, South Carolina
697 Total Awards

With a ranking of #10, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. OCtech is located in Orangeburg, South Carolina and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 697 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College

#11

Miller-Motte College Charleston

Charleston, South Carolina
214 Total Awards

Miller-Motte College Charleston ranked #11 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in South Carolina list. Located in Charleston, South Carolina, the very small private for-profit school awarded 214 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

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#12

Tri-County Technical College

Pendleton, South Carolina
2,449 Total Awards

Tri-County Technical College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Pendleton, South Carolina, and it awarded 2,449 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Tri-County Technical College Report

#13

Florence-Darlington Technical College

Florence, South Carolina
651 Total Awards

Florence-Darlington Technical College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Florence-Darlington Technical College is a public institution located in Florence, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 651 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#14

Aiken Technical College

Graniteville, South Carolina
328 Total Awards

Aiken Technical College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Aiken Technical College is a small public school located in Graniteville, South Carolina that handed out 328 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#15

Central Carolina Technical College

Sumter, South Carolina
635 Total Awards

Central Carolina Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #15 on the list. Central Carolina is a small public school situated in Sumter, South Carolina. It awarded 635 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Central Carolina Technical College

#16

Midlands Technical College

West Columbia, South Carolina
1,543 Total Awards

Midlands Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #16 on the list. MTC is a public institution located in West Columbia, South Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,543 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Midlands Technical College

#17

Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Conway, South Carolina
1,602 Total Awards

Horry-Georgetown Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #17 on the list. Horry-Georgetown Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in Conway, South Carolina that handed out 1,602 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Horry-Georgetown Technical College Report

#18

York Technical College

Rock Hill, South Carolina
1,350 Total Awards

York Technical College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. York Technical College is located in Rock Hill, South Carolina and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,350 degrees to qualified students.

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#19

Technical College of the Lowcountry

Beaufort, South Carolina
314 Total Awards

Technical College of the Lowcountry landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Beaufort, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 314 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Technical College of the Lowcountry

#20

South Carolina State University

Orangeburg, South Carolina
420 Total Awards

South Carolina State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in South Carolina ranking. Located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, the small public school handed out 420 degrees in 2021-2022.

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 20 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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