Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College charges a net price of $6,186/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $24,744. Median earnings ten years after entry are $35,761, 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, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College does not clear its cost — it ranks #40 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) | $6,186/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $24,744 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $35,761 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$12,599/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $10,562 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$276,724 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College's own numbers. Net price $6,186 × 4 years = $24,744 total. Median earnings $35,761 fall $12,599 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 $24,744 bill in about 2.5 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College students graduate with?
A median $10,562 in federal loans among completers, or 30% of the $35,761 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College students graduate?
32% finish their degree — 68% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $24,744 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $77,325 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College expensive compared with other South Carolina colleges?
Its $6,186 net price runs $9,809 below the $15,995 median across the 60 South Carolina colleges we profile, and $39,234 less across the full degree.