Florence-Darlington Technical College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Florence-Darlington Technical College charges a net price of $2,004/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $8,016. Median earnings ten years after entry are $32,748, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Florence-Darlington Technical College does not clear its cost — it ranks #46 of 60 South Carolina colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $2,004/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $8,016 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $32,748 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$15,612/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $12,250 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$320,256 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Florence-Darlington Technical College's own numbers. Net price $2,004 × 4 years = $8,016 total. Median earnings $32,748 fall $15,612 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $8,016 bill in about 0.8 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Florence-Darlington Technical College students graduate with?
A median $12,250 in federal loans among completers, or 37% of the $32,748 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Florence-Darlington Technical College students graduate?
34% finish their degree — 66% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $8,016 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $23,576 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Florence-Darlington Technical College expensive compared with other South Carolina colleges?
Its $2,004 net price runs $13,991 below the $15,995 median across the 60 South Carolina colleges we profile, and $55,962 less across the full degree.