Piedmont Technical College

620 North Emerald Road
Greenwood, SC 29646
Top Ranked (2024): View Rankings
  • Piedmont Technical College, a member of the South Carolina Technical and Comprehensive Education system, is a public comprehensive two-year post-secondary institution. Piedmont contributes to the economic growth and development of the largest and most diverse region of the technical college system, Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry, and Saluda counties and to the state. The college responds to the academic, training, and public service needs of the community through excellence in teaching and educational services.

School Highlights

Piedmont Technical College serves 4,712 students (36% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 14:1 is higher than the state community college average of 12:1.
Minority enrollment is 36% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the state average of 38%.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Enrollment: 4,712 students
  • In-state tuition: $4,460
  • Out-state tuition: $5,660
  • Student:teacher ratio: 14:1
  • Minority enrollment: 36%
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Piedmont Technical College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in South Carolina for:

Category
Attribute

School Overview

The teacher population of 342 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Piedmont Technical College
(SC) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associates Colleges
Associates Colleges
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
342 staff
177 staff
This chart display total faculty of Piedmont Technical College and community college average number of faculty in SC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Student Body

The student population of Piedmont Technical College has stayed relatively flat over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 14:1 has stayed the same over five years.
The Piedmont Technical College diversity score of 0.48 is less than the state average of 0.55. The school's diversity has declined by 15% over five years.
Total Enrollment
4,712 students
1,813 students
This chart display the total enrollment of Piedmont Technical College and community college average number of enrollment of SC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
12:1
This chart display the student staff ratio of Piedmont Technical College and community college average student staff ratio of SC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Full-Time Students
1,673 students
646 students
This chart display the total number of Full-time students enrollment of Piedmont Technical College and average number of community college Full-time students enrollment of SC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Part-Time Students
3,039 students
1,167 students
This chart display the total number of Part-time students enrollment of Piedmont Technical College and average number of community college Part-time students enrollment of SC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
This chart display the Full-time students and Part-time students enrollment breakdown of Piedmont Technical College.
This chart display community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of SC.
# Enrollment Undergraduate
359 students
359 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
1,673 students
646 students
This chart display the total number of Full-time undergraduate students enrollment of Piedmont Technical College and average number of community college Full-time undergraduate  students enrollment of SC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
5 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
3,039 students
1,317 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
2 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
260 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
1%
n/a
% Asian
1%
2%
This chart display the percentage of Asian students in Piedmont Technical College and the percentage of Asian community college students in SC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Hispanic
n/a
5%
This chart display the percentage of Hispanic students in Piedmont Technical College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in SC by year, with the latest 2019-20 school year data.
% Black
31%
24%
This chart display the percentage of Black students in Piedmont Technical College and the percentage of Black community college students in SC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% White
64%
62%
This chart display the percentage of White students in Piedmont Technical College and the percentage of White community college students in SC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Two or more races
3%
4%
This chart display the percentage of Two or more races students in Piedmont Technical College and the percentage of Two or more races community college students in SC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Unknown races
n/a
3%
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Piedmont Technical College.
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in SC.
Diversity Score
0.48
0.55
This chart display the diversity score of Piedmont Technical College and the community college average diversity score of SC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
24%
24%
This chart display completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Piedmont Technical College and community college average completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of SC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
2.47%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$27,500
$28,800
This chart display average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Piedmont Technical College and community college average graduate earnings (10 Years) of SC by year, disaggregated by student subgroups with the latest 2012-13 school year data.

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $4,460 is less than the state average of $5,917. The in-state tuition has declined by 10% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $5,660 is less than the state average of $10,561. The out-state tuition has declined by 8% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$4,460
$5,917
This chart display tuition fees for an in-state student of Piedmont Technical College and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of SC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Out-State Tuition Fees
$5,660
$10,561
This chart display tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Piedmont Technical College and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of SC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
99%
95%
This chart display the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in Piedmont Technical College and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in SC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates
$14,750
$11,729
This chart display median debt for students who have completed a certificate or degree in Piedmont Technical College and average median debt for community college students who have completed a certificate or degree in SC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Median Debt for Dropouts
$7,500
$5,500
This chart display median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Piedmont Technical College and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in SC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Acceptance Rate
n/a
83%
SAT Reading
n/a
430
SAT Math
n/a
458
SAT Writing
n/a
413
ACT Composite
n/a
18
ACT English
n/a
17
ACT Math
n/a
18
ACT Writing
n/a
6
Source: 2021 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators

School Notes

  • In 1966, the eighth Technical Education Center, Piedmont, was established to serve Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry, Saluda and surrounding counties. Classes met for the first time at Piedmont on September 6, 1966, with some 300 students enrolled in day and evening classes. On October 2, 1972, five new buildings representing the first phase of a 30-year master development plan were occupied. These facilities housed classrooms, laboratories, a learning resources center and faculty offices. A general renovation of the main campus center included a student lounge and recreation complex. On April 10, 1974, the institution's name was changed from Piedmont Technical Education Center to Piedmont Technical College to more accurately reflect our post-secondary educational mission. The 1981-82 year saw six new additions to the Piedmont campus: a health sciences facility, conference center, continuing education complex, student center, multi-purpose building and automotive technology facility. In 1986, a 10,000-square-foot addition to the Conference Center made it one of the finest facilities of its type in the state. Piedmont's main Campus, the Lex Walters Campus borders a primary industrial corridor on the outskirts of Greenwood, South Carolina. The modern campus is a large complex that integrates the latest in instructional technology while also offering an environment that is totally conducive to learning. Campus highlights includes the James C. Self Conference Center, Marion P. Carnell library, the Solutia Gallery, PTC Campus Shop, Student Center & Canteen. Other features includes labs for medical, technology and business programs, industrial shops, a well-equipped media center, faculty and administrative offices. The college offers Associate degrees in vocational, technical, and occupational areas and university transfer; vocational, technical and occupational diplomas and certificates; developmental education programs and courses preparing individuals to take the General Education Development Test, custom-designed Continuing Education training programs for business, industry, and facilities for the Special Schools program to train potential employees for new and expanding manufacturing companies; and Student Development programs which provide academic, career and individual support. Piedmont Technical College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the associate's degree and holds membership in the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges and in the American Technical Education Association.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Piedmont Technical College cost?
Piedmont Technical College's tuition is approximately $4,460 for In-State students and $5,660 for Out-State students.
What is Piedmont Technical College's ranking?
Piedmont Technical College ranks among the top 20% of community college in South Carolina for: Least expensive tuition and Percent of students receiving financial aid.

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • Enrollment: 4,712 students
  • In-state tuition: $4,460
  • Out-state tuition: $5,660
  • Student:teacher ratio: 14:1
  • Minority enrollment: 36%
  • Source: Verified school update

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

For South Carolina public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $5,917 per year for in-state students and $10,561 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $11,903 per year. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

The average community college acceptance rate in South Carolina is 81%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

South Carolina community colleges have a diversity score of 0.55, which is lower than the national average of 0.70. The most diverse community college in South Carolina is University of South Carolina-Sumter. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

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