Trident Technical College South Carolina

Trident Tech is a public community college in Charleston's urban setting, designed primarily for students who need flexible scheduling, affordable tuition, and practical training. The college serves a mix of recent high school graduates, working adults, and people switching careers—the kind of students who need to balance school with jobs and family responsibilities. It's the kind of place where you'll find classmates from all walks of life, which is part of what makes community college valuable.

The college enrolls about 14,000 students across its programs. In-state tuition runs $5,059 per year, and out-of-state students pay $8,606—genuinely affordable compared to four-year universities. That low cost is the whole point: Trident Tech makes higher education accessible to people who might not otherwise be able to afford it.

The six-year graduation rate sits at 28.7 percent, which is lower than you'd see at four-year institutions, but that number doesn't tell the whole story. Many students at community colleges attend part-time, take longer to finish, or transfer to universities after completing their general education requirements—all of which are legitimate and smart paths. Trident Tech is best suited for students who want to earn a credential quickly, save money on their first two years before transferring, or jump into a specific trade or technical field without the cost and time commitment of a bachelor's degree.