South Carolina Trade Schools: Cost, Completion & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Trade schools in South Carolina: 48 trade and vocational campuses (38 trade schools, 10 community colleges) median net price $14,029 (-1.3% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $31,360 (-10.4% vs U.S.) median completion rate 50.7% employment-outcome proxy 80.4% working & not enrolled at 8 years.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 48 campuses (38 trade schools, 10 community colleges)
- Total enrollment: 69,789 students
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $31,360 (-10.4% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 80.4% (-0.5 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $14,029 (-1.3% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $9,616 (-0.9% vs U.S. $9,699); regional median $9,724. Debt rank: #25 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #6 in Southeast of 12
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 50.7%
- Earnings rank: #42 nationally (higher median 10-yr earnings = better rank)
- Employment-outcome rank: #27 nationally (higher working share = better rank)
- Student debt rank: #25 nationally of 52; #6 in Southeast of 12 (lower debt = better rank)
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Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
Trade schools and vocational programs in South Carolina include certificate-focused campuses and community colleges with career and technical education pathways. 48 campuses in this profile (38 trade schools, 10 community colleges), with about 69,789 students enrolled, and median net price near $14,029. Programs span healthcare, skilled trades, manufacturing, and other workforce credentials—tables below compare completion, earnings, and employment outcomes with U.S. and Southeast medians.
South Carolina vs regional & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina (SC) | — | $14,029 | $9,616 | 50.7% | 69,789 |
| Southeast (region median) | — | $12,646 | $9,724 | 53.3% | 1,214,956 |
| United States | — | $14,215 | $9,699 | 63.3% | 5,490,315 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: South Carolina vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina (SC) | $31,360 | 80.4% | N/A | 11.5% | — | 43.8% | 0.31 |
| United States | $34,984 | 80.9% | 64.9% | 11.1% | — | 50.5% | 0.28 |
South Carolina vs peer states (Southeast region)
Peer states are other campuses in the same Scorecard region, chosen by similar total enrollment.
| State | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina (SC) | N/A | $14,029 | $9,616 | 50.7% | 69,789 | $31,360 | 80.4% |
| Tennessee (TN) | N/A | $12,684 | $8,725 | 71.6% | 74,238 | $34,811 | 80.8% |
| Alabama (AL) | N/A | $12,609 | $9,833 | 41.2% | 61,273 | $32,912 | 83.5% |
| Louisiana (LA) | N/A | $14,183 | $9,500 | 59.4% | 61,228 | $29,834 | 82.9% |
| Mississippi (MS) | N/A | $8,616 | $8,239 | 52.1% | 53,340 | $31,420 | 84.8% |
| United States | N/A | $14,215 | $9,699 | 63.3% | 5,490,315 | $34,984 | 80.9% |
Outcomes by sector in South Carolina
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private for-profit | 21 | $25,542 | 80.0% | N/A | 9.2% | — | 32.9% |
| Public | 20 | $35,764 | 83.5% | N/A | 12.4% | — | 48.2% |
Top 10 trade schools in South Carolina by completion rate (150% time, certificate programs)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate among trade schools and community colleges in this profile (enrollment ≥ 50). Source: College Scorecard.
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Rank 1, Completion Rate, 100.0%, Academy of Hair Technology
Academy of Hair Technology
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Rank 2, Completion Rate, 89.6%, Southeastern Esthetics Institute
Southeastern Esthetics Institute
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Rank 3, Completion Rate, 84.2%, Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Goose Creek
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Goose Creek
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Rank 4, Completion Rate, 83.9%, Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Columbia
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Columbia
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Rank 5, Completion Rate, 80.4%, Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Florence
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Florence
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Rank 6, Completion Rate, 79.4%, Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Greenville
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Greenville
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Rank 7, Completion Rate, 75.6%, Arclabs
Arclabs
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Rank 8, Completion Rate, 75.0%, Strand College of Hair Design
Strand College of Hair Design
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Rank 9, Completion Rate, 74.5%, Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston
Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston
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Rank 10, Completion Rate, 71.0%, Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Rock Hill
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Rock Hill
Top 10 trade schools in South Carolina by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 88.6%, University of South Carolina-Lancaster
University of South Carolina-Lancaster
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 86.7%, University of South Carolina-Sumter
University of South Carolina-Sumter
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 85.2%, Tri-County Technical College
Tri-County Technical College
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 85.1%, University of South Carolina-Union
University of South Carolina-Union
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 84.9%, Northeastern Technical College
Northeastern Technical College
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Rank 6, Employment Outcome, 84.2%, Fortis College-Columbia
Fortis College-Columbia
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Rank 7, Employment Outcome, 84.2%, Greenville Technical College
Greenville Technical College
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Rank 8, Employment Outcome, 84.1%, Piedmont Technical College
Piedmont Technical College
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Rank 9, Employment Outcome, 83.9%, Southeastern College-Charleston
Southeastern College-Charleston
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Rank 10, Employment Outcome, 83.9%, Spartanburg Community College
Spartanburg Community College
Top 10 trade schools in South Carolina by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $37,275, Tri-County Technical College
Tri-County Technical College
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $36,439, University of South Carolina-Sumter
University of South Carolina-Sumter
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $35,240, Greenville Technical College
Greenville Technical College
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $35,206, University of South Carolina-Lancaster
University of South Carolina-Lancaster
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $34,202, University of South Carolina-Union
University of South Carolina-Union
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Rank 6, Mid-Career Earnings, $34,001, Technical College of the Lowcountry
Technical College of the Lowcountry
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Rank 7, Mid-Career Earnings, $33,460, Spartanburg Community College
Spartanburg Community College
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Rank 8, Mid-Career Earnings, $33,306, Trident Technical College
Trident Technical College
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Rank 9, Mid-Career Earnings, $33,189, Fortis College-Columbia
Fortis College-Columbia
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Rank 10, Mid-Career Earnings, $33,067, Midlands Technical College
Midlands Technical College
Top 10 trade schools in South Carolina by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $41,313, University of South Carolina-Sumter
University of South Carolina-Sumter
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $39,366, Tri-County Technical College
Tri-County Technical College
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $36,871, Greenville Technical College
Greenville Technical College
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $36,835, University of South Carolina-Lancaster
University of South Carolina-Lancaster
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $35,612, York Technical College
York Technical College
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Rank 6, 8-Yr Earnings, $35,589, Spartanburg Community College
Spartanburg Community College
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Rank 7, 8-Yr Earnings, $35,346, Midlands Technical College
Midlands Technical College
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Rank 8, 8-Yr Earnings, $35,256, Trident Technical College
Trident Technical College
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Rank 9, 8-Yr Earnings, $35,074, Aiken Technical College
Aiken Technical College
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Rank 10, 8-Yr Earnings, $34,896, Fortis College-Columbia
Fortis College-Columbia
Top 10 trade schools in South Carolina by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $42,437, University of South Carolina-Sumter
University of South Carolina-Sumter
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $40,101, Tri-County Technical College
Tri-County Technical College
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $39,473, Greenville Technical College
Greenville Technical College
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $39,426, University of South Carolina-Lancaster
University of South Carolina-Lancaster
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $39,225, Aiken Technical College
Aiken Technical College
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Rank 6, 10-Yr Earnings, $38,701, Midlands Technical College
Midlands Technical College
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Rank 7, 10-Yr Earnings, $38,253, Trident Technical College
Trident Technical College
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Rank 8, 10-Yr Earnings, $37,257, York Technical College
York Technical College
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Rank 9, 10-Yr Earnings, $37,097, Spartanburg Community College
Spartanburg Community College
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Rank 10, 10-Yr Earnings, $36,368, Fortis College-Columbia
Fortis College-Columbia
Top 10 trade schools in South Carolina by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year ROI among trade schools and community colleges with enrollment ≥ 50.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $188,989, Tri-County Technical College
Tri-County Technical College
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $179,566, Greenville Technical College
Greenville Technical College
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $173,091, University of South Carolina-Sumter
University of South Carolina-Sumter
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $171,982, Aiken Technical College
Aiken Technical College
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $171,846, York Technical College
York Technical College
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $164,206, Technical College of the Lowcountry
Technical College of the Lowcountry
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Rank 7, 10-Yr ROI, $163,186, Horry-Georgetown Technical College
Horry-Georgetown Technical College
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Rank 8, 10-Yr ROI, $161,958, Midlands Technical College
Midlands Technical College
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Rank 9, 10-Yr ROI, $161,566, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
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Rank 10, 10-Yr ROI, $157,420, Spartanburg Community College
Spartanburg Community College
Top 10 most affordable trade schools in South Carolina (net price)
Lowest median net price among trade schools and community colleges with enrollment ≥ 50.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $1,406, Trident Technical College
Trident Technical College
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Rank 2, Net Price, $2,405, Spartanburg Community College
Spartanburg Community College
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Rank 3, Net Price, $2,004, Florence-Darlington Technical College
Florence-Darlington Technical College
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Rank 4, Net Price, $4,159, Horry-Georgetown Technical College
Horry-Georgetown Technical College
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Rank 5, Net Price, $6,186, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
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Rank 6, Net Price, $4,647, Midlands Technical College
Midlands Technical College
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Rank 7, Net Price, $5,571, Central Carolina Technical College
Central Carolina Technical College
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Rank 8, Net Price, $4,807, Aiken Technical College
Aiken Technical College
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Rank 9, Net Price, $5,931, York Technical College
York Technical College
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Rank 10, Net Price, $6,913, Northeastern Technical College
Northeastern Technical College
Student debt: South Carolina vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in South Carolina is $9,616 (-0.9% vs U.S. median $9,699). Regional median: $9,724. Rank: #25 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #6 in Southeast of 12.
Median earnings (10 years out): South Carolina vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in South Carolina center around $31,360 (-10.4% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: South Carolina vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 80.4% at the median South Carolina campus (-0.5 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Median graduate debt is $9,616 (-0.9% below the U.S. median of $9,699, and -1.1% vs the Southeast regional median of $9,724). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Student debt rank: #25 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #6 in Southeast of 12 (1 = lowest median debt).
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in South Carolina are $31,360, about -10.4% vs the U.S. campus median ($34,984).
The median campus reports 80.4% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 80.9% (-0.5 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 11.5% (U.S. 11.1%); 3-yr repayment progress 43.8% (U.S. 50.5%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Nationally, South Carolina ranks earnings #42 and employment proxy #27 on these outcome medians (1 = best).
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include University of South Carolina-Lancaster (88.6%), University of South Carolina-Sumter (86.7%), Tri-County Technical College (85.2%), University of South Carolina-Union (85.1%), Northeastern Technical College (84.9%), Fortis College-Columbia (84.2%), Greenville Technical College (84.2%), Piedmont Technical College (84.1%), Southeastern College-Charleston (83.9%), Spartanburg Community College (83.9%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within South Carolina, sector medians diverge: Private for-profit median 10-yr earnings $25,542 (21 campuses); Public median 10-yr earnings $35,764 (20 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in South Carolina is 50.7% (national institution average about 63.3%).
FAQ
How much do trade schools cost in South Carolina?
Among trade schools and community colleges in South Carolina, median net price is $14,029 vs $14,215 nationally (-1.3% vs U.S.).
What is typical student debt at South Carolina trade schools?
Median federal loan debt among completers at trade and vocational campuses in South Carolina is $9,616 vs a U.S. median of $9,699 (South Carolina ranks #25 nationally for median debt among states.)
What do trade school graduates earn in South Carolina?
Median earnings 10 years after entry for South Carolina trade schools and community colleges reporting to the College Scorecard is $31,360 vs $34,984 nationally. Six-year medians are $28,856.
What share of South Carolina trade school students are working after completion?
The federal employment-outcome proxy on this site (8-year cohort working and not enrolled) has a median of 80.4% in South Carolina vs 80.9% nationally.
How many trade schools are in South Carolina?
This profile covers 38 trade schools and 10 community colleges (48 total) in South Carolina with roughly 69,789 total reported enrollment.
How many public vs. private trade schools are in South Carolina?
Among trade schools and community colleges with outcomes in the College Scorecard extract: 20 public, 0 private nonprofit, and 21 private for-profit institutions.
What are the top trade schools in South Carolina?
Rankings on this page use College Scorecard medians for trade schools and community colleges; standouts include highest completion rate: Academy of Hair Technology; highest 10-year earnings: University of South Carolina-Sumter; lowest net price among large campuses: Trident Technical College. See the ranked lists below for full details.
Are there Hispanic-serving or other designated trade schools in South Carolina?
Among 92 campuses in South Carolina, 8 historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs, IPEDS HBCU flag), including Allen University, Benedict College, and Claflin University; 1 campus with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Arclabs; 17 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Baptist (4), United Methodist (4), African Methodist Episcopal (1).
How does South Carolina compare to its Census region for trade schools?
South Carolina is in the Southeast region. Regional median net price is $12,646 and median 10-year earnings are $32,612 vs $14,029 net price and $31,360 earnings in South Carolina.
Sources & related
- All trade school profiles
- South Carolina college profile
- Trade school costs by state
- Trade schools and public community colleges (College Scorecard)
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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