Location: Beaufort, SC•In-State Tuition: $5,500•Out-of-State Tuition: $11,044
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$35,275
Est. from SC median (4 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$18,903
Est. from SC median (4 programs)

Analysis

The earnings trajectory here tells an uncomfortable story: comparable business associate programs in South Carolina suggest first-year earnings around $35,275, climbing to just $36,107 by year four—barely $800 of growth over three years. While the estimated debt load of roughly $19,000 isn't catastrophic at 0.54 times first-year earnings, it's still $5,000 above the national median for business associate degrees, and you're taking on that burden for a credential that appears to stall quickly.

What makes this harder to evaluate is that we're working entirely with estimates—both the earnings and debt figures come from peer programs across South Carolina since this school's graduate cohort was too small for the Department of Education to report. The state context isn't encouraging either: other SC business programs with actual reported data show Strayer graduates earning $44,000+ and even nearby technical colleges like Horry-Georgetown producing $36,679 first-year earners. Technical College of the Lowcountry's estimated outcomes sit near the bottom of that range.

For a parent, the question is whether an associate degree that may plateau at $36,000 justifies $19,000 in debt when similar credentials at other South Carolina technical colleges appear to offer better returns. The small cohort size makes it impossible to know if this program actually performs better or worse than these estimates suggest, which is itself a yellow flag about enrollment and outcomes.

Where Technical College of the Lowcountry Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business/commerce associates's programs nationally

Technical College of the Lowcountry (estimated ±10%)Other business/commerce programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Technical College of the Lowcountry—$36,107—
Thomas More University$83,571$68,202-18%
Strayer University-South Carolina$44,154$47,516+8%
Piedmont Technical College$33,486$36,670+10%
Horry-Georgetown Technical College$36,679$26,486-28%

Compare to Similar Programs in South Carolina

Business/Commerce associates's programs at peer institutions in South Carolina (16 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Technical College of the LowcountryBeaufort$5,500$35,275*$36,107$18,903*—
Strayer University-South CarolinaGreenville$13,920$44,154*$47,516$32,810*0.74
Horry-Georgetown Technical CollegeConway$4,468$36,679*$26,486$26,100*0.71
York Technical CollegeRock Hill$5,512$33,870*—$11,000*0.32
Piedmont Technical CollegeGreenwood$4,775$33,486*$36,670$26,547*0.79
National Median—$36,591*—$13,437*0.37
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business/commerce graduates

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial Production Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Quality Control Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate quality assurance programs. Formulate quality control policies and control quality of laboratory and production efforts.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geothermal Production Managers

Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels Production Managers

Manage biofuels production and plant operations. Collect and process information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biomass Power Plant Managers

Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Hydroelectric Production Managers

Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Construction Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

$106,980/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Technical College of the Lowcountry, approximately 34% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 4 similar programs in SC. Actual outcomes may vary.