Trident Technical College vs Bob Jones University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bob Jones University comes closer — median earnings $44,354 against a $66,564 total, vs $38,253 at Trident Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Trident Technical College | Bob Jones University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $1,406 | $16,641 |
| Total net cost | $2,812 | $66,564 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,253 | $44,354 |
| Median debt | $13,029 | $16,585 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$204,952 | -$146,684 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Trident Technical College or Bob Jones University?
Trident Technical College, at $1,406 a year after aid versus $16,641 — a gap of $15,235 a year, or $63,752 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Trident Technical College or Bob Jones University graduates earn more?
Bob Jones University graduates report a median $44,354 ten years after entry, $6,101 more than the $38,253 at Trident Technical College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Trident Technical College or Bob Jones University?
Trident Technical College: its completers carry a median $13,029 in federal loans versus $16,585 at Bob Jones University, a difference of $3,556. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
65% of students finish at Bob Jones University, against 30% at Trident Technical College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.