Business/Commerce at Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Horry-Georgetown Technical College's business program delivers solid first-year earnings of $36,679—ranking in the 60th percentile among South Carolina business programs—but graduates see their income drop by 28% to just $26,486 within four years. This sharp decline is unusual for business graduates and suggests students may be taking entry-level positions that don't lead to career progression, or they're working in seasonal industries common to the coastal Myrtle Beach area.

The $26,100 debt load creates a complicated picture. While the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 looks manageable based on first-year earnings, it becomes burdensome as income declines. The debt is roughly double the national median for business associate programs ($13,437), though it's typical for South Carolina, where technical college students often borrow more than their national counterparts.

For parents weighing this investment, the key question is whether their child has connections to stable employers in the region. The program's outcomes suggest graduates who find the right opportunities do fine initially, but many don't sustain those earnings. At 40% below national costs for similar debt levels, students might explore York Technical College or other SC programs where earnings hold steadier over time, or consider whether local employment connections could help their graduate buck the downward earnings trend.