- Trident Technical College is a public, two-year, multicampus institution that provides quality education and promotes economic development in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties in coastal South Carolina.
School Highlights
Trident Technical College serves 13,552 students (32% of students are full-time).
The college's student-teacher ratio of 39:1 is higher than the state community college average of 29:1.
Minority enrollment is 47% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the state average of 48%.
Quick Facts (26-27)
- Enrollment: 13,552 students
- In-state tuition: $4,370
- Out-state tuition: $7,434
- Student-teacher ratio: 39:1
- Minority enrollment: 47%
- Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
Top Rankings
Trident Technical College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in South Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
School Overview
The teacher population of 347 teachers has declined by 59% over five years.
Trident Technical College
(SC) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associate's Colleges
Associate's 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
347 staff
71 staff
School Calendar
Student Body
The student population of Trident Technical College has grown by 16% over five years.
The student-teacher ratio of 39:1 has increased from 14:1 over five years.
The Trident Technical College diversity score of 0.63 is equal to the state average of 0.63. The school's diversity has grown by 13% over five years.
Total Enrollment
13,552 students
1,870 students
Showing 2012–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
Student-Teacher Ratio
39:1
29:1
# Full-Time Students
4,336 students
661 students
Showing 2012–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
# Part-Time Students
9,216 students
1,209 students
Showing 2012–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
# Enrollment Undergraduate
4,336 students
1,975 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
4,336 students
661 students
Showing 2012–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
% Asian
2%
2%
Showing 2008–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
9%
9%
Showing 2008–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
28%
29%
Showing 2008–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
% White
53%
52%
Showing 2010–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
% Two or more races
6%
4%
% Unknown races
2%
4%
Diversity Score
0.63
0.63
Showing 2011–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
24%
26%
Showing 2015–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$33,700
$28,800
Tuition & Financial Aid
The public in-state tuition of $4,370 is less than the state average of $5,692. The in-state tuition has declined by 15% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $7,434 is less than the state average of $10,568. The out-state tuition has declined by 14% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$4,370
$5,692
Out-State Tuition Fees
$7,434
$10,568
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
93%
95%
Showing 2012–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
Median Debt for Graduates
$13,660
$11,729
Showing 2008–2020. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Median Debt for Dropouts
$6,625
$5,500
Showing 2008–2020. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Source: 2025 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
School Notes
- Each semester approximately 17,000 credit students enroll in programs leading to college transfer associate degrees and technical associate degrees, diplomas and certificates. The curriculum includes programs in Business Technology; Community, Family and Child Studies; Health Sciences, Film, Media and Visual Arts; Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Industrial and Engineering Technology; Law-Related Studies; Nursing; and Science and Mathematics. Trident Technical College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate degrees, diplomas and certificates. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Trident Technical College.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Trident Technical College cost?
Trident Technical College's tuition is approximately $4,370 for In-State students and $7,434 for Out-State students.
What is Trident Technical College's ranking?
Trident Technical College ranks among the top 20% of community college in South Carolina for: Largest student body.
Nearby Schools
The nearest community college to Trident Technical College is Southeastern College-Charleston (1.7 miles away)
School
Location
Miles
Quick Facts
Southeastern College-Charleston
Private for-profit
4390 Belle Oaks Drive, Suite 102
North Charleston, SC 29405
(843) 747-1279
North Charleston, SC 29405
(843) 747-1279
1.7 miles
Enrollment: 226 students Acceptance rate: 98% Minority enrollment: 64%
601 Martin Luther King Jr Ave
Kingstree, SC 29556
(843) 355-4110
Kingstree, SC 29556
(843) 355-4110
50.6 miles
Enrollment: 668 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 In-state tuition: $3,876 Out-state tuition: $7,260 Minority enrollment: 73%
921 Ribaut Road
Beaufort, SC 29901
(800) 768-8252
Beaufort, SC 29901
(800) 768-8252
51.7 miles
Enrollment: 2,461 students Student-teacher ratio: 28:1 In-state tuition: $4,660 Out-state tuition: $8,812 Minority enrollment: 56%
3250 Saint Matthews Rd
Orangeburg, SC 29118
(803) 536-0311
Orangeburg, SC 29118
(803) 536-0311
62.9 miles
Enrollment: 2,106 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 In-state tuition: $4,861 Out-state tuition: $6,637 Minority enrollment: 66%
1 University Boulevard
Bluffton, SC 29909
(843) 208-8000
Bluffton, SC 29909
(843) 208-8000
68.4 miles
Enrollment: 2,208 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Acceptance rate: 73% In-state tuition: $21,360 Out-state tuition: $32,406 Minority enrollment: 41%
Recent Articles
Required Course Full? Avoid Community College Degree Delays
Learn how a full required course can delay graduation, how to navigate waitlists, and how to find approved alternatives that protect your community college degree timeline and financial aid eligibility.
Catalog-Year Rules: Community College Graduation Requirements
Understand how catalog years determine community college graduation requirements, how enrollment breaks and major changes affect eligibility, and what to verify before choosing courses or switching to a newer catalog.
What If Your Community College Program Closes?
Learn what happens when your community college discontinues your program before graduation, including teach-out options, credit transfers, financial aid implications, student protections, and practical steps to finish your degree successfully.
