Business/Commerce at Tri-County Technical College

Comparable business programs in South Carolina suggest first-year earnings around $35,275—right at the state median but trailing the national benchmark by more than a thousand dollars. The estimated debt load of $18,903 sits well below the state median of $26,324, which matters considerably for the 40% of students here receiving Pell grants. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54, you're looking at roughly half a year's salary in loans—manageable, but not exactly comfortable on an associate's degree salary.

The challenge is that South Carolina's business associate programs show wide variation in outcomes. Top performers like Strayer's South Carolina campus report earnings near $44,000, suggesting that not all business programs deliver equal value. Without actual graduate data from Tri-County specifically, you're betting that their outcomes track close to the state average rather than at the lower end where some programs land in the low $30,000s.

For families considering this route, the relatively modest estimated debt provides some cushion against downside risk. If your child can keep actual borrowing below $19,000 and understands they'll likely start in the mid-$30,000s, this could work as an affordable credential. Just know you're making that decision without seeing this specific program's track record.