Technical College of the Lowcountry — ROI, Cost & Payback
Technical College of the Lowcountry charges a net price of $14,724/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $29,448. Median earnings ten years after entry are $35,090, 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, Technical College of the Lowcountry does not clear its cost — it ranks #42 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) | $14,724/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $29,448 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $35,090 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$13,270/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $10,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$294,848 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Technical College of the Lowcountry's own numbers. Net price $14,724 × 2 years = $29,448 total. Median earnings $35,090 fall $13,270 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 $29,448 bill in about 2.9 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Technical College of the Lowcountry students graduate with?
A median $10,000 in federal loans among completers, or 28% of the $35,090 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Technical College of the Lowcountry students graduate?
18% finish their degree — 82% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $29,448 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $163,600 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Technical College of the Lowcountry expensive compared with other South Carolina colleges?
Its $14,724 net price runs $1,271 below the $15,995 median across the 60 South Carolina colleges we profile, and $2,541 less across the full degree.