Technical College of the Lowcountry

921 Ribaut Road
Beaufort, SC 29901-1288

Tel: (800) 768-8252

One of sixteen colleges comprising the South Carolina Technical College System, the Technical College of the Lowcountry traces its origin to the Mather School founded in 1868. The college is a comprehensive, public, two-year college dedicated to serving the diverse educational needs of the rural counties of Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper. The College annually serves approximately 8,500 credit and continuing education students, a mix of traditional, non-traditional, full-time, and part-time.

School Highlights

Technical College of the Lowcountry serves 2,529 students (29% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 30:1 is higher than the state community college average of 28:1.
Minority enrollment is 39% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the state average of 38%.
Technical College of the Lowcountry is one of 2 community colleges within Beaufort County, SC.
The nearest community college to Technical College of the Lowcountry is University of South Carolina-Beaufort (18.5 miles away).

Top Placements

Technical College of the Lowcountry places among the top 20% of community colleges in South Carolina for:

The teacher population of 84 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.

	Technical College of the Lowcountry	(SC) Community College Avg.
Institution Level	At least 2 but less than 4 years	At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control	Public	Public
Total Faculty	84 staff	55 staff

The student population of Technical College of the Lowcountry has stayed relatively flat over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 30:1 has stayed the same over five years.
The Technical College of the Lowcountry diversity score of 0.54 is equal to the state average of 0.54. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.

Total Enrollment	2,529 students	1,260 students

Student : Teacher Ratio	30:1	28:1

# Full-Time Students	734 students	726 students

# Part-Time Students	1,795 students	534 students


% American Indian/Alaskan	1%	1%

% Asian	1%	1%

% Hispanic	5%	3%

% Black	29%	27%

% White	61%	62%

% Unknown races	2%	4%

Diversity Score	0.54	0.54

College Completion Rate	10%	12%

Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)	$29,000	$28,900

The public in-state tuition of $4,660 is less than the state average of $6,284. The in-state tuition has grown by 29% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $8,812 is less than the state average of $10,399. The out-state tuition has grown by 12% over four years.

In-State Tuition Fees	$4,660	$6,284

Out-State Tuition Fees	$8,812	$10,399

% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid	94%	93%

Median Debt for Graduates	$7,500	$12,000

Median Debt for Dropouts	$3,750	$5,500

Source: 2016 (or latest year available) IPEDS

The Technical College of the Lowcountry provides quality, affordable academic and technical programs leading to Associate Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates in an environment fostering excellence in teaching and learning. The College prepares graduates with knowledge and skills for transfer to senior colleges and universities and for careers in computer technology, industrial technology, engineering technology, occupational technology, business, health sciences, and public service. As an open admissions institution, the Technical College of the Lowcountry offers over 70 academic, transfer, and specialized programs. Offerings include developmental education; arts and sciences; career development; specialized, contract courses tailored for specific businesses and industries; and continuing education to meet the workforce needs of the Lowcountry. TCL is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs, National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS) and Paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association.

The nearest community college to Technical College of the Lowcountry is University of South Carolina-Beaufort (18.5 miles away).

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Did You Know?

For South Carolina public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $6,284 per year for in-state students and $10,399 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $12,551 per year. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

The average community college acceptance rate in South Carolina is 62%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

South Carolina community colleges have a diversity score of 0.54, which is lower than the national average of 0.65. The most diverse community college in South Carolina is University of South Carolina-Salkehatchie. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.