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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. Clemson is a public institution located in Clemson, South Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7,469 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Clemson University

#2

Trident Technical College

Charleston, South Carolina
2,581 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Trident Technical College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 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.

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#3

South University, Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina
154 Total Awards

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend South University, Columbia. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in South Carolina list. South University, Columbia is a private for-profit institution located in Columbia, South Carolina. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 154 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full South University, Columbia Report

#4

Spartanburg Community College

Spartanburg, South Carolina
1,057 Total Awards

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Spartanburg Community College is a great place for trade school students. This medium-sized public school is located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and it awarded 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. Charleston, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 800 students in 2021-2022.

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#6

University of South Carolina - Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina
10,045 Total Awards

University of South Carolina - Columbia landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. UofSC is a large public school situated in Columbia, South Carolina. It awarded 10,045 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#7

Greenville Technical College

Greenville, South Carolina
2,125 Total Awards

Greenville Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #7 on the list. GTC is located in Greenville, South Carolina and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,125 degrees to qualified students.

Full Greenville Technical College Report

#8

Newberry College

Newberry, South Carolina
271 Total Awards

With a ranking of #8, Newberry College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Newberry College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Newberry, South Carolina. It awarded 271 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#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 medium-sized public school located in Greenwood, South Carolina that handed out 1,653 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Piedmont Technical College Report

#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. Located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, the small public school awarded 697 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

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#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. Charleston, South Carolina is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 214 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. Located in Pendleton, South Carolina, the medium-sized public school handed out 2,449 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Tri-County Technical College Report

#13

Florence-Darlington Technical College

Florence, South Carolina
651 Total Awards

With a ranking of #13, Florence-Darlington Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Florence, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 651 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Florence-Darlington Technical College

#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. Graniteville, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 328 students in 2021-2022.

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#15

Central Carolina Technical College

Sumter, South Carolina
635 Total Awards

Central Carolina Technical College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in South Carolina list. Central Carolina Technical College is a small public school located in Sumter, South Carolina that handed out 635 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#16

Midlands Technical College

West Columbia, South Carolina
1,543 Total Awards

Midlands Technical College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in South Carolina list. This medium-sized public school is located in West Columbia, South Carolina, and it awarded 1,543 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Midlands Technical College Report

#17

Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Conway, South Carolina
1,602 Total Awards

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

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#18

York Technical College

Rock Hill, South Carolina
1,350 Total Awards

York Technical College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in South Carolina ranking. Located in Rock Hill, South Carolina, the small public school awarded 1,350 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on York Technical College

#19

Technical College of the Lowcountry

Beaufort, South Carolina
314 Total Awards

Technical College of the Lowcountry came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in South Carolina ranking. TCL is located in Beaufort, South Carolina and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 314 degrees to qualified students.

Full Technical College of the Lowcountry Report

#20

South Carolina State University

Orangeburg, South Carolina
420 Total Awards

South Carolina State University landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. South Carolina State University is a small public school located in Orangeburg, South Carolina that handed out 420 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full South Carolina State University Report

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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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