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2026 Best Value Trade Schools in South Carolina
Looking for the best-value Trade degree programs in South Carolina? We have ranked 90 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Trade College analyzed 20 schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Trade Degree Schools in South Carolina
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Trident Technical College earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking 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. Trident Technical College alumni report median earnings of $38,253 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $18,116 median debt. See the full Trident Technical College profile
You'll get strong value at Greenville Technical College, which ranked #2 this year. 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. Median earnings reach $39,473 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Greenville Technical College
A rank of #3 makes Spartanburg Community College one of the best values 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. Median earnings reach $37,097 ten years out. Set against $10,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Spartanburg Community College report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florence Darlington Technical College earned it the #4 place in South Carolina. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $32,748. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Florence Darlington Technical College
A rank of #5 makes Piedmont Technical College one of the best values in South Carolina. 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. Median earnings reach $35,768 ten years out. Set against $17,652 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Piedmont Technical College
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $35,761. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
Aiken Technical College placed #7 among the best-value Trade schools in South Carolina. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,225. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Aiken Technical College
Tri County Technical College came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,101. Set against $15,787 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Tri County Technical College
Horry Georgetown Technical College placed #9 among the best-value Trade schools in South Carolina. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $35,507. Set against $19,172 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Horry Georgetown Technical College report
York Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. 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. York Technical College alumni report median earnings of $37,257 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $10,907 median debt. Read more about York Technical College
Midlands Technical College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,701. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Midlands Technical College
Clemson University landed the #12 spot for value in South Carolina this year. Located in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $71,513. Set against $23,783 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%. More on Clemson University
Central Carolina Technical College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. 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. Central Carolina Technical College alumni report median earnings of $32,603 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Central Carolina Technical College
Technical College Of The Lowcountry landed the #14 spot for value in South Carolina this year. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $35,090. That is a strong return on a $17,110 median debt. Read the full report on Technical College Of The Lowcountry
University Of South Carolina Columbia offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Based in Columbia, SC, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public institution. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $62,177 ten years after entry. Set against $24,472 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of South Carolina Columbia
South University Columbia came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. Based in Columbia, SC, South University Columbia is a private for-profit institution. 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. Median earnings reach $34,421 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about South University Columbia
South Carolina State University offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. This public school is set in Orangeburg, SC. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,262 ten years after entry. Set against $31,740 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%. More on South Carolina State University
Charleston Southern University placed #18 among the best-value Trade schools in South Carolina. This private not-for-profit school is set in Charleston, SC. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,898. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted. See the full Charleston Southern University profile
Newberry College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. Located in Newberry, SC, Newberry College is a private not-for-profit institution. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,040 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $27,729 median debt. About 90% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Newberry College
Miller Motte Technical College North Charleston ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. 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. Median earnings reach $31,102 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $24,182 median debt. More on Miller Motte Technical College North Charleston
Anderson University Sc came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. See the full Anderson University Sc profile
Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Rock Hill offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. See the full Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Rock Hill profile
Southeastern Esthetics Institute came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Southeastern Esthetics Institute
Claflin University placed #24 among the best-value Trade schools in South Carolina. Read more about Claflin University
Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Greenville placed #25 among the best-value Trade schools in South Carolina. Read the full report on Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Greenville
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Trade Degree Schools in South Carolina
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Sherman College Of Straight Chiropractic ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. Read more about Sherman College Of Straight Chiropractic
Paul Mitchell The School Charleston came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. More on Paul Mitchell The School Charleston
Denmark Technical College landed the #28 spot for value in South Carolina this year. More on Denmark Technical College
Personal Touch Beauty And Barber College landed the #29 spot for value in South Carolina this year. Read more about Personal Touch Beauty And Barber College
College Of Charleston offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. Read more about College Of Charleston
Furman University placed #31 among the best-value Trade schools in South Carolina. Read more about Furman University
Morris College
Morris College offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. Read more about Morris College
Strand College Of Hair Design landed the #33 spot for value in South Carolina this year. See the full Strand College Of Hair Design profile
Spartanburg Methodist College placed #34 among the best-value Trade schools in South Carolina. More on Spartanburg Methodist College
Paul Mitchell The School Columbia landed the #35 spot for value in South Carolina this year. More on Paul Mitchell The School Columbia
Allen University
Allen University came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Allen University report
American College Of The Building Arts landed the #37 spot for value in South Carolina this year. See the full American College Of The Building Arts profile
University Of South Carolina Aiken placed #38 among the best-value Trade schools in South Carolina. Read more about University Of South Carolina Aiken
Benedict College
Benedict College landed the #39 spot for value in South Carolina this year. More on Benedict College
University Of South Carolina Union came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of South Carolina Union profile
Lander University came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Lander University
Williamsburg Technical College ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. Read more about Williamsburg Technical College
Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Columbia offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. Get the full Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Columbia report
Southeastern Institute Charleston ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. More on Southeastern Institute Charleston
Columbia College South Carolina landed the #45 spot for value in South Carolina this year. Get the full Columbia College South Carolina report
Coastal Carolina University landed the #46 spot for value in South Carolina this year. More on Coastal Carolina University
Southeastern Institute Columbia ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. See the full Southeastern Institute Columbia profile
Barber Tech Academy offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. Read more about Barber Tech Academy
Charleston School Of Law offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. See the full Charleston School Of Law profile
Academy For Careers And Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. Get the full Academy For Careers And Technology report
More Trade Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 20 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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