Trident Technical College vs Citadel Military College of South Carolina: which has better ROI?
Citadel Military College of South Carolina has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $82,892 in 3.5 years versus not at all at Trident Technical College, on median earnings of $72,085 vs $38,253 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Trident Technical College | Citadel Military College of South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $1,406 | $20,723 |
| Total net cost | $2,812 | $82,892 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,253 | $72,085 |
| Median debt | $13,029 | $21,096 |
| Payback | — | 3.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$204,952 | $391,608 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Trident Technical College or Citadel Military College of South Carolina?
Trident Technical College, at $1,406 a year after aid versus $20,723 — a gap of $19,317 a year, or $80,080 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 Citadel Military College of South Carolina graduates earn more?
Citadel Military College of South Carolina graduates report a median $72,085 ten years after entry, $33,832 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 Citadel Military College of South Carolina?
Trident Technical College: its completers carry a median $13,029 in federal loans versus $21,096 at Citadel Military College of South Carolina, a difference of $8,067. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
75% of students finish at Citadel Military College of South Carolina, 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.