Trident Technical College
Charleston, SC 29423-8067
About Trident Technical College
Trident Technical College is a public community college in Charleston, South Carolina, with about 10,512 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $1,406 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $4,546. Student demographics in federal data include White (47.0%) and Black or African American (31.2%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key findings
- Trident Technical College charges 18% below the national public median tuition ($4,546).
- Versus the South Carolina median, sticker tuition is about 0.4×.
- Average net price runs below the South Carolina median net price.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 29.63%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $38,253.
Research findings
Finding
Average net price at Trident Technical College is about 69% below published tuition.
Published tuition is $4,546; average net price is $1,406 in the latest Scorecard extract.
Interpretation: Institutional aid and grants compress sticker price into a substantially lower typical undergraduate cost signal.
Limitation: Average net price masks variation by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the campus average.
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Trident Technical College is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 6702% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
Trident Technical College awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 75 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trident Technical College | $4,546 | $1,406 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| South Carolina (state median) | $12,978 | $11,376 | 63 |
| Suburban (locale median) | $13,135 | $18,048 | 684 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 69% below published tuition at Trident Technical College
Key findings
- Trident Technical College's average net price ($1,406) is 69% below published tuition ($4,546).
- Trident Technical College charges 18% below the national public median tuition ($4,546).
- Versus the South Carolina median, sticker tuition is about 0.4×.
- Average net price runs below the South Carolina median net price.
Trident Technical College tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $4,546
Finding Trident Technical College charges 18% below the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $4,546. That is 18% below the national public median ($5,512). Versus the South Carolina median ($12,978), sticker tuition is about 0.4×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 0.4×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Trident Technical College versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Trident Technical College versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Trident Technical College is $1,406.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $1,406 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $9,970 below the South Carolina median net price. Versus suburban campuses, net price runs $16,642 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Trident Technical College’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 69% lower after grants and scholarships.
Trident Technical College: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Trident Technical College—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
Completion, earnings, and net price together describe a campus where sticker price overstates typical undergraduate cost while outcomes remain at the high end of Scorecard distributions.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$4,546
Out-of-state tuition
$8,620
Avg. net price
$1,406
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $1,057 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $516 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $1,141 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $2,174 |
| $110,001+ | $6,542 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $18,184. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Trident Technical College is known for
Top program completions
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies630
- Pre-Nursing Studies204
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse162
- Business/Commerce, General120
- Accounting116
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Trident Technical College a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Trident Technical College is a good school for those looking for strong completion and solid mid-career earnings—especially where average net price sits well below published tuition (about 69% lower in this extract).
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Trident Technical College.
Campus
Location
Charleston, SC
City / state
- ZIP
- 29423-8067
- NCES locale
- Suburb
Compared with Suburban campuses nationally, net price is about 0.1× the median for Suburban campuses ($18,048 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
Size
Enrollment
10,512
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 20,631
- Full-time share
- 37%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$13,029
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 28.24%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Trident Technical College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Trident Technical College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Trident Technical College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $3,822 | $7,210 | $6,433 |
| 2014 | $3,942 | $7,434 | $8,477 |
| 2015 | $4,039 | $7,645 | $7,701 |
| 2016 | $4,155 | $7,837 | $7,369 |
| 2017 | $4,394 | $8,188 | $4,943 |
| 2018 | $4,551 | $8,484 | $4,409 |
| 2019 | $4,648 | $8,690 | $1,137 |
| 2020 | $4,648 | $8,690 | $943 |
| 2021 | $4,648 | $8,690 | $1,057 |
| 2022 | $4,564 | $8,606 | $251 |
| 2023 | $4,564 | $8,606 | −$3,220 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Trident Technical College reported total enrollment of about 10,512 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 35% male and 65% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (47.0%), Black or African American (31.2%), and Hispanic or Latino (10.3%). About 28.24% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 42.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
37.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Trident Technical College in 2024 is 10,512 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 20,631 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
59.2%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
19.84% 100% Completion Time
29.63% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 19.84% of students graduating from Trident Technical College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 36% male / 64% female
- Pre-Nursing Studies: 8% male / 92% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 10% male / 90% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Trident Technical College graduates earn a median of $38,253 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Trident Technical College.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $38,253. Median federal loan debt: $13,029. Average net price used in cost models: $1,406.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Trident Technical College graduates report median earnings of $38,253 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Trident Technical College.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (75 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Trident Technical College.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Trident Technical College graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Trident Technical College—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$5.5M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- South Carolina median 0.43× the median ($12.8M)
- Southeast median 0.28× the median ($19.4M)
- U.S. median 0.21× the median ($26.4M)
- South Carolina median 0.09× the median ($7,041)
- Southeast median 0.07× the median ($9,308)
- U.S. median 0.05× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 46.0%
- South Carolina median 14.7 pp below median (60.7%)
- Southeast median 13.5 pp below median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 12.0 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $6,683
- South Carolina median near the median ($6,831)
- Southeast median near the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median 0.88× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $6,261
- South Carolina median 0.77× the median ($8,125)
- Southeast median 0.95× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 0.86× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Trident Technical College at a glance
Trident Technical College
Trident Technical College is a public institution in Charleston, SC, classified as Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal StudiesPre-Nursing StudiesRegistered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian47.0%Black or African American31.2%Hispanic or Latino10.3%
Schools near Trident Technical College
Other campuses in Charleston, SC when available, plus nearby institutions in South Carolina.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within South Carolina, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Trident Technical College located?
Trident Technical College is located in Charleston, SC.
What is Trident Technical College's tuition?
Trident Technical College tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $4,546 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $1,406 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Trident Technical College cost?
Reported tuition is $4,546 and average net price is $1,406 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $9,600 annually.
Why is Trident Technical College's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Trident Technical College, published tuition is $4,546 while average net price is $1,406—about 69% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Trident Technical College's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($1,406), completion (29.6% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($38,253). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Trident Technical College?
Trident Technical College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 20,631 students, White (47.0%), Black or African American (31.2%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Trident Technical College?
About 42.8% of students at Trident Technical College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Trident Technical College earn?
Median earnings are $33,306 six years after entry and $38,253 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Trident Technical College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 29.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Trident Technical College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $13,029.
Is Trident Technical College public or private?
Trident Technical College is a public institution located in Charleston, SC.
Is Trident Technical College an HBCU?
No. Trident Technical College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- South Carolina college profile
- South Carolina college costs
- South Carolina colleges by ROI
- South Carolina trade schools profile
- Charleston, South Carolina city profile
- Southeast regional profile
- Suburban college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in South Carolina
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.