1
Trident Technical College Charleston, SC · Public
- Avg net price
- $1,406
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $1,057
- Median debt
- $13,029
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $33,306
- Enrollment
- 13,552
State cost ranking · DOE College Scorecard
Cheapest Colleges in South Carolina
Private campuses outnumber public ones on this South Carolina list (48 vs 33); Trident Technical College still leads on average net price at $1,406.
- $1,406
- Cheapest net price
- $16,525
- South Carolina median
- 81
- Schools ranked
Trident Technical College has the lowest average net price in South Carolina among Scorecard reporters
According to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Trident Technical College posts the lowest average net price in South Carolina at $1,406 among 81 ranked schools, with the state median 3% below the $17,124 national median. Net price is what students paid after grant aid, not sticker tuition, and can reflect a narrow enrollment mix at specialty schools.
Data source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Cheapest net price
- $1,406
- South Carolina median
- $16,525
- Schools ranked
- 81
- National median
- $17,124
Data updated August 2026 · IPEDS 2022–23 vintage
The list in one line
Trident Technical College has the lowest average net price in South Carolina at $1,406/year, and the state's median net price is 3% below the $17,124 national median across 4,965 schools.
- $1,406
- cheapest ranked net price
- $16,525
- South Carolina median net price
- 33 public / 48 private
- schools in this ranking
- $14,108
- avg net price, <$30K income families
Average net price blends every income bracket; families under $30k average $14,108 here. Loans are excluded, open a school profile for the bracket table before treating one average as a personal cost.
Sticker tuition and real net price diverge most at Wofford College, where in-state published tuition of $56,005 falls to an average net price of $18,732 after aid, a $37,273 gap, the widest sticker-to-net gap among ranked South Carolina schools.
Private campuses outnumber public ones here (48 vs 33). A low figure at a small religious or specialty school can reflect a narrow enrollment mix, check sector and enrollment beside the price.
The bar to make this top-25 list is $11,641. Here is where that cutoff sits among all 81 Scorecard-reporting South Carolina schools:
The bar to make South Carolina's top-25 cheapest list
Average net price after aid · 81 Scorecard-reporting schools
$11,641 Among the most affordable more affordable than 69% of 81 South Carolina colleges
Show national distribution
Each bar is a $4K-wide band; taller bars hold more South Carolina colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · 2022–23
South Carolina's 25 cheapest colleges by real net price
2
Florence-Darlington Technical College Florence, SC · Public
- Avg net price
- $2,004
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $1,589
- Median debt
- $12,250
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $27,042
- Enrollment
- 3,522
3
Spartanburg Community College Spartanburg, SC · Public
- Avg net price
- $2,405
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $2,669
- Median debt
- $6,500
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $33,460
- Enrollment
- 6,653
4
Horry-Georgetown Technical College Conway, SC · Public
- Avg net price
- $4,159
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $3,673
- Median debt
- $14,250
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $31,547
- Enrollment
- 7,923
5
Midlands Technical College West Columbia, SC · Public
- Avg net price
- $4,647
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $3,429
- Median debt
- $12,000
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $33,067
- Enrollment
- 9,226
6
Aiken Technical College Graniteville, SC · Public
- Avg net price
- $4,807
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $4,566
- Median debt
- $12,250
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $32,231
- Enrollment
- 2,307
7
Central Carolina Technical College Sumter, SC · Public
- Avg net price
- $5,571
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $5,526
- Median debt
- $9,977
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $28,887
- Enrollment
- 2,825
8
York Technical College Rock Hill, SC · Public
- Avg net price
- $5,931
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $5,749
- Median debt
- $7,000
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $32,929
- Enrollment
- 4,771
9
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Orangeburg, SC · Public
- Avg net price
- $6,186
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $7,122
- Median debt
- $10,562
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $31,617
- Enrollment
- 2,106
10
Northeastern Technical College Cheraw, SC · Public
- Avg net price
- $6,913
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $7,012
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $28,856
- Enrollment
- 1,428
11
University of South Carolina-Sumter Sumter, SC · Public
- Avg net price
- $7,712
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $5,894
- Median debt
- $9,250
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $36,439
- Enrollment
- 1,845
12
University of South Carolina-Union Union, SC · Public
- Avg net price
- $8,065
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $7,340
- Median debt
- $11,000
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $34,202
- Enrollment
- 1,402
13
Personal Touch Beauty and Barber College Kingstree, SC · Private for-profit
- Avg net price
- $8,905
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $8,905
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- -
- Enrollment
- 7
14
Academy for Careers and Technology Mullins, SC · Public
- Avg net price
- $8,969
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $8,969
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $42,099
- Enrollment
- 37
15
University of South Carolina-Salkehatchie Allendale, SC · Public
- Avg net price
- $9,229
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $8,535
- Median debt
- $11,000
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $28,655
- Enrollment
- 799
16
University of South Carolina-Lancaster Lancaster, SC · Public
- Avg net price
- $9,801
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $6,306
- Median debt
- $9,616
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $35,206
- Enrollment
- 2,687
17
Williamsburg Technical College Kingstree, SC · Public
- Avg net price
- $9,887
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $8,307
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $29,427
- Enrollment
- 668
18
Strand College of Hair Design Myrtle Beach, SC · Private for-profit
- Avg net price
- $9,998
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $8,650
- Median debt
- $6,333
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $25,974
- Enrollment
- 70
19
Vski Cosmetology School Charleston, SC · Private nonprofit
- Avg net price
- $10,578
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $10,578
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- -
- Enrollment
- 31
20
Allen University Columbia, SC · Private nonprofit
- Avg net price
- $10,972
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $10,553
- Median debt
- $34,290
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $23,889
- Enrollment
- 610
21
Piedmont Technical College Greenwood, SC · Public
- Avg net price
- $11,366
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $11,778
- Median debt
- $15,000
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $31,430
- Enrollment
- 5,143
22
Francis Marion University Florence, SC · Public
- Avg net price
- $11,386
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $9,723
- Median debt
- $27,000
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $36,304
- Enrollment
- 4,112
23
Academy of Hair Technology Greenville, SC · Private for-profit
- Avg net price
- $11,409
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $11,409
- Median debt
- $3,417
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $17,132
- Enrollment
- 58
24
Clinton College Rock Hill, SC · Private nonprofit
- Avg net price
- $11,458
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $11,105
- Median debt
- $28,987
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $24,047
- Enrollment
- 126
25
University of South Carolina Aiken Aiken, SC · Public
- Avg net price
- $11,641
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $8,987
- Median debt
- $24,275
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $39,689
- Enrollment
- 4,022
| # | College | Avg net price | Net price (<$30K income) | Median debt | Median earnings, 6yr | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trident Technical College Charleston, SC · Public | $1,406 96% of the leader · rank #1 | $1,057 | $13,029 | $33,306 | 13,552 |
| 2 | Florence-Darlington Technical College Florence, SC · Public | $2,004 94% of the leader · rank #2 | $1,589 | $12,250 | $27,042 | 3,522 |
| 3 | Spartanburg Community College Spartanburg, SC · Public | $2,405 92% of the leader · rank #3 | $2,669 | $6,500 | $33,460 | 6,653 |
| 4 | Horry-Georgetown Technical College Conway, SC · Public | $4,159 87% of the leader · rank #4 | $3,673 | $14,250 | $31,547 | 7,923 |
| 5 | Midlands Technical College West Columbia, SC · Public | $4,647 85% of the leader · rank #5 | $3,429 | $12,000 | $33,067 | 9,226 |
| 6 | Aiken Technical College Graniteville, SC · Public | $4,807 85% of the leader · rank #6 | $4,566 | $12,250 | $32,231 | 2,307 |
| 7 | Central Carolina Technical College Sumter, SC · Public | $5,571 83% of the leader · rank #7 | $5,526 | $9,977 | $28,887 | 2,825 |
| 8 | York Technical College Rock Hill, SC · Public | $5,931 81% of the leader · rank #8 | $5,749 | $7,000 | $32,929 | 4,771 |
| 9 | Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Orangeburg, SC · Public | $6,186 81% of the leader · rank #9 | $7,122 | $10,562 | $31,617 | 2,106 |
| 10 | Northeastern Technical College Cheraw, SC · Public | $6,913 78% of the leader · rank #10 | $7,012 | - | $28,856 | 1,428 |
| 11 | University of South Carolina-Sumter Sumter, SC · Public | $7,712 76% of the leader · rank #11 | $5,894 | $9,250 | $36,439 | 1,845 |
| 12 | University of South Carolina-Union Union, SC · Public | $8,065 75% of the leader · rank #12 | $7,340 | $11,000 | $34,202 | 1,402 |
| 13 | Personal Touch Beauty and Barber College Kingstree, SC · Private for-profit | $8,905 72% of the leader · rank #13 | $8,905 | - | - | 7 |
| 14 | Academy for Careers and Technology Mullins, SC · Public | $8,969 72% of the leader · rank #14 | $8,969 | - | $42,099 | 37 |
| 15 | University of South Carolina-Salkehatchie Allendale, SC · Public | $9,229 71% of the leader · rank #15 | $8,535 | $11,000 | $28,655 | 799 |
| 16 | University of South Carolina-Lancaster Lancaster, SC · Public | $9,801 69% of the leader · rank #16 | $6,306 | $9,616 | $35,206 | 2,687 |
| 17 | Williamsburg Technical College Kingstree, SC · Public | $9,887 69% of the leader · rank #17 | $8,307 | - | $29,427 | 668 |
| 18 | Strand College of Hair Design Myrtle Beach, SC · Private for-profit | $9,998 69% of the leader · rank #18 | $8,650 | $6,333 | $25,974 | 70 |
| 19 | Vski Cosmetology School Charleston, SC · Private nonprofit | $10,578 67% of the leader · rank #19 | $10,578 | - | - | 31 |
| 20 | Allen University Columbia, SC · Private nonprofit | $10,972 66% of the leader · rank #20 | $10,553 | $34,290 | $23,889 | 610 |
| 21 | Piedmont Technical College Greenwood, SC · Public | $11,366 64% of the leader · rank #21 | $11,778 | $15,000 | $31,430 | 5,143 |
| 22 | Francis Marion University Florence, SC · Public | $11,386 64% of the leader · rank #22 | $9,723 | $27,000 | $36,304 | 4,112 |
| 23 | Academy of Hair Technology Greenville, SC · Private for-profit | $11,409 64% of the leader · rank #23 | $11,409 | $3,417 | $17,132 | 58 |
| 24 | Clinton College Rock Hill, SC · Private nonprofit | $11,458 64% of the leader · rank #24 | $11,105 | $28,987 | $24,047 | 126 |
| 25 | University of South Carolina Aiken Aiken, SC · Public | $11,641 64% of the leader · rank #25 | $8,987 | $24,275 | $39,689 | 4,022 |
Showing the 25 cheapest of 81 Scorecard-reporting South Carolina schools. The remaining 56 are ranked in the same net-price order but omitted from this HTML table so the page stays crawlable.
Look up any institution's exact rank via My School Profile, or open its school page for income-bracket net price, debt, and earnings.
Related
What this means for you
Use South Carolina's ranking as a starting point, real net price depends on your specific financial-aid package.
- Trident Technical College reports the lowest average net price in South Carolina, but "average" blends every income bracket, check your bracket's figure before assuming it applies to you. View Trident Technical College
- See your specific school's in-state cost rank and nearest-price peers. My School Profile
- Compare campus safety alongside cost before deciding. South Carolina safety
Figures reflect the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23 release.
Average net price = the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, excluding loans. Only schools with a reported average net price in the DOE College Scorecard dataset are ranked. This page lists the 25 cheapest; the title count is the full Scorecard-reporting cohort for South Carolina. Schools with fewer than 10 net-price-reporting institutions in a state or territory are not given a dedicated ranking page.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Every ranked figure on this page is queried directly from the DOE College Scorecard dataset at request time; no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.