Tri-County Technical College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Pendleton, South Carolina. It enrolls 5,071 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
54/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes29
Value37
Affordability42
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Tri-County Technical College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Tri-County Technical College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $14,670 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,670
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
36%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
11%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$4,448
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$11,815
Room & Board (off-campus)
$23,472
Books & Supplies
$2,600
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,652
Total Cost of Attendance
$25,057
Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$11,937
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,576
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,201
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,105
Over $110,000
$19,459
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,75010%percentile
$3,20425%percentile
$9,000Medianpercentile
$8,50275%percentile
$14,75090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $5,500
↓ $3,500
No Pell $5,500
↓ $3,500
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $3,500
Independent students $9,350
↑ $350
Female students $5,500
↓ $3,500
Male students $5,500
↓ $3,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($9,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
22% of full-time students who enrolled at Tri-County Technical College graduate within six years, and 54% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
22%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
54%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Tri-County Technical College earn a median of $40,101 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$40,101
Earning > $25K
66%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$27,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$36,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,400, about 26% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
10.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 66% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Tri-County Technical College is home to 5,071 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 39% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
5,071
Part-Time
33%
First-Generation
39%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 71.4%3,618
Black 11.5%584
Hispanic 9.6%487
Other 4.0%204
Asian 1.4%73
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Tri-County Technical College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize SuburbPendleton, South Carolina
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
16%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Tri-County Technical College offers
a varied set of programs:
30 distinct programs across
12 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Tri-County Technical College is 19:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
19:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,482
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$34M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$54,519
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
140 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
No Rank
140
100%
$54,519
Pros & Cons of Tri-County Technical College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Tri-County Technical College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Low typical debt at graduation
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, Tri-County Technical College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tri-County Technical College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Tri-County Technical College.
Is Tri-County Technical College hard to get into?
Tri-County Technical College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Tri-County Technical College?
Tri-County Technical College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Tri-County Technical College cost?
The average net price after aid at Tri-County Technical College is $14,670 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Tri-County Technical College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $40,101 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,670 per year. That's roughly 2.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Tri-County Technical College known for?
Tri-County Technical College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Tri-County Technical College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Tri-County Technical College are $40,101, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Tri-County Technical College accredited?
Yes. Tri-County Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Tri-County Technical College?
Tri-County Technical College enrolls 5,071 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Tri-County Technical College?
Tri-County Technical College graduates 22% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Tri-County Technical College a public or private college?
Tri-County Technical College is a Public institution.
Where is Tri-County Technical College located?
Tri-County Technical College is located in Pendleton, South Carolina.
What programs does Tri-County Technical College offer?
Tri-County Technical College offers 30 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Tri-County Technical College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Tri-County Technical College is 19:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in South Carolina
Other colleges in South Carolina share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Liberal Arts
Nursing
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
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