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2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in South Carolina
A trade school student has lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. 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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Most Popular Trade Schools in South Carolina to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 69 schools in South Carolina to see which ones were the most popular programs for trade school students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
Most Popular Trade Schools in South Carolina
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our analysis found Piedmont Technical College to be the most popular school for trade school students in South Carolina. Piedmont Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Greenwood, South Carolina. It awarded 1,653 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $16,654 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Piedmont Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $32,435 during the early year of their career. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Greenville Technical College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in South Carolina list. GTC is a public institution located in Greenville, South Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,125 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,263 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, GTC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,132 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 54% were women.
Out of the 69 schools in South Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, Horry-Georgetown Technical College landed the # 3 spot on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Conway, South Carolina, and it awarded 1,602 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $16,555 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Horry-Georgetown Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $31,926 during the early year of their career. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
The programs at Tri-County Technical College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in South Carolina. TCTC is located in Pendleton, South Carolina and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,449 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from TCTC accumulate an average of $10,659 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, TCTC graduates make an average of $34,761 annually. Around 51% of those degree recipients were women.
The programs at Trident Technical College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in South Carolina. Trident Technical College is located in Charleston, South Carolina and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,581 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,991 in student loans.After graduating from Trident Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $33,465 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
York Technical College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in South Carolina ranking. Located in Rock Hill, South Carolina, the small public school handed out 1,350 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,367 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, York Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,715 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
Arclabs ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in South Carolina list. Arclabs is located in Piedmont, South Carolina and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 458 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from Arclabs accumulate an average of $7,781 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $102, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Arclabs, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,596 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 9% were women.
With a ranking of #8, Spartanburg Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Spartanburg Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Spartanburg, South Carolina that handed out 1,057 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,030 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Spartanburg Community College graduates make an average of $35,952 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 46% were women.
Midlands Technical College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in West Columbia, South Carolina, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,543 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from MTC accumulate an average of $15,149 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $101, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from MTC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,029 during the early years of their career. Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
Florence-Darlington Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #10 on the list. 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.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,630 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Florence-Darlington Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,017 during the early year of their career. Around 46% of those degree recipients were women.
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in South Carolina list. OCtech is a small public school situated in Orangeburg, South Carolina. It awarded 697 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,950 in student loans.After graduating from OCtech, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,665 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
Miller-Motte College Conway landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Conway, South Carolina is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 268 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $19,201 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $59.After graduating from MMC Conway, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $23,198 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 43% were women.
With a ranking of #12, Miller-Motte College Charleston did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. 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.
Degree recipients from MMC Charleston accumulate an average of $22,286 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $60 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, MMC Charleston graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $25,712 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 41% were women.
Central Carolina Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #14 on the list. Sumter, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 635 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $13,273 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Central Carolina graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $32,123 during the early year of their career. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
Southeastern Esthetics Institute came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in South Carolina ranking. This very small private for-profit school is located in Columbia, South Carolina, and it awarded 339 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $5,432 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $78. Around 99% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #16, Fortis College - Columbia did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Fortis College - Columbia is a very small private for-profit school located in Columbia, South Carolina that handed out 170 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $15,339 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $86 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Fortis College - Columbia graduates make an average of $33,614 annually. Around 74% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #17, Southeastern College - Charleston did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. This very small private for-profit school is located in North Charleston, South Carolina, and it awarded 132 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $9,578 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Southeastern College - Charleston graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $24,343 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 92% were women.
Clemson University landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Clemson, South Carolina, the large public school handed out 7,469 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,386 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $488.After graduating from Clemson, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $47,889 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.
Aiken Technical College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Aiken Technical College is located in Graniteville, South Carolina and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 328 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from Aiken Technical College accumulate an average of $14,446 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Aiken Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,685 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Goose Creek did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #20 on the list. Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Goose Creek is a very small private for-profit school located in Goose Creek, South Carolina that handed out 162 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $7,443 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $58. Once they receive their degree, Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $18,217 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 99% were women.
Read full report on Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Goose Creek
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Florence did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #21 on the list. Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Florence is a very small private for-profit school located in Florence, South Carolina that handed out 93 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Florence accumulate an average of $9,623 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $76.After graduating from Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Florence, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $15,358 during the early years of their career. Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.
Paul Mitchell the School Charleston ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in South Carolina list. Paul Mitchell the School Charleston is a private for-profit institution located in North Charleston, South Carolina. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 122 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,997 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $93 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Paul Mitchell the School Charleston graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $17,189 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 98% were women.
Southeastern College - Columbia did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #23 on the list. This very small private for-profit school is located in Columbia, South Carolina, and it awarded 125 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,293 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Southeastern College - Columbia graduates make an average of $22,372 annually. Around 90% of those degree recipients were women.
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Rock Hill landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. This very small private for-profit school is located in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and it awarded 147 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $8,565 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $105 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Rock Hill graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $18,309 during the early year of their career. Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.
Read full report on Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Rock Hill
Paul Mitchell the School Columbia did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #25 on the list. West Columbia, South Carolina is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 81 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Paul Mitchell the School Columbia accumulate an average of $11,997 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $93 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Paul Mitchell the School Columbia, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $17,189 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 78% were women.
Most Popular Trade School Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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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