Forestry at Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Horry-Georgetown Technical College's forestry program sits in an unusual position: its $36,135 starting salary falls in the bottom 5% nationally for forestry associate degrees, yet it's the only such program in South Carolina. That national ranking might sound alarming, but the 60th percentile state ranking tells a different story—this program performs reasonably well for SC's regional forestry market, where timber and land management opportunities differ from major forestry states like Oregon or Washington.

The financial picture is actually quite manageable. With just $12,622 in median debt and earnings climbing 11% to nearly $40,000 by year four, graduates face a debt burden of only 35% of their first-year income—well below the typical 100% threshold for concern. The low debt load matters especially given that 39% of students receive Pell grants, suggesting many come from families where avoiding excessive borrowing is critical.

The real question is career trajectory: does this path lead to stable forestry work in South Carolina's coastal timber region, or are graduates hitting an early ceiling? The modest but steady earnings growth suggests the former. For families committed to staying in-state and looking for an affordable technical credential in natural resources, this program delivers low financial risk, even if it won't match the higher-paying forestry markets found elsewhere in the country.