2027 Best Value Engineering Technologies Schools in South Carolina

[Engineering Technologies](/majors/engineering-technologies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for engineering technologies students.
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2027 Best Value Engineering Technologies Schools in South Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering technologies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Engineering Technologies Schools
Spartanburg Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value engineering technologies schools in South Carolina. Located in the suburb of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,071, with out-of-state students paying around $10,135. Students borrow a median of $9,250 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Engineering Technologies graduates of Spartanburg Community College earn a median of $65,388 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,250 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in engineering technologies will find it at Trident Technical College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,546 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,620 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Engineering Technologies graduates of Trident Technical College earn a median of $50,166 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midlands Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering technologies, landing the #3 spot this year. Midlands Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of West Columbia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,100, compared with $14,700 for out-of-state students. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $17,611 in student loans. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $39,610. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Florence Darlington Technical College one of the best values for engineering technologies. Located in the rural area of Florence, Florence Darlington Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,636, with out-of-state students paying around $6,772. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $7,230 in student loans. Engineering Technologies graduates of Florence Darlington Technical College earn a median of $34,948 early in their careers. Set against $7,230 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Horry Georgetown Technical College one of the best values for engineering technologies. Set in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,518, while out-of-state students pay about $10,978. Students borrow a median of $19,172 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Horry Georgetown Technical College generally make around $37,387. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College earned the #6 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Set in the town of Orangeburg, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,210 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,354 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $18,583. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College generally make around $67,406. Set against $18,583 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
York Technical College placed #7 among the best values for engineering technologies. York Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rock Hill. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,036, compared with $13,340 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $10,907. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $37,626. That is a strong return on a $10,907 median debt.
Central Carolina Technical College landed the #8 spot for engineering technologies value this year. Set in the city of Sumter, Central Carolina Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,715, while out-of-state students pay about $9,016. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Central Carolina Technical College generally make around $40,598. Set against $15,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Piedmont Technical College came in at #9 for value in engineering technologies this year. Set in the town of Greenwood, Piedmont Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,775, compared with $6,923 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Piedmont Technical College generally make around $53,518. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Greenville Technical College earned the #10 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Located in the city of Greenville, Greenville Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,495 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,775 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,009 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $73,700. Set against $12,009 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tri County Technical College earned the #11 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Set in the suburb of Pendleton, Tri County Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,448, with out-of-state students paying around $12,007. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $15,787. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Tri County Technical College generally make around $58,406. That is a strong return on a $15,787 median debt.
Citadel Military College Of South Carolina earned the #12 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Set in the city of Charleston, Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,570, with out-of-state students paying around $38,508. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $24,305. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Citadel Military College Of South Carolina generally make around $52,909. Set against $24,305 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 23% of applicants are accepted.
Clemson University placed #13 among the best values for engineering technologies. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $68,904. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
More Engineering Technologies Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.