Top 50 Best Associate Degree Programs in South Carolina by ROI

Every Associate Degree program in South Carolina ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all majors. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in South Carolina

131

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

-$119,568

Across all South Carolina programs

Average Annual Cost

$16,404

Cost of attendance

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Avg Debt
1	Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Grad rate: 33.8%	Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians.	+$567,632	$71,878	$14,964	N/A	Full ROI →
2	Spartanburg Community College Grad rate: 29.2%	Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians.	+$567,058	$71,856	$15,031	N/A	Full ROI →
3	Greenville Technical College Grad rate: 17.4%	Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other.	+$493,510	$68,068	$13,925	N/A	Full ROI →
4	Aiken Technical College Grad rate: 19.0%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$483,614	$68,959	$12,798	$22,200	Full ROI →
5	Greenville Technical College Grad rate: 17.4%	Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians.	+$466,680	$67,598	$13,925	$12,911	Full ROI →
6	Tri-County Technical College Grad rate: 36.8%	Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology.	+$422,082	$64,792	$16,879	N/A	Full ROI →
7	York Technical College Grad rate: 31.6%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$333,127	$61,040	$15,399	$12,500	Full ROI →
8	Technical College of the Lowcountry Grad rate: 13.4%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$311,637	$60,759	$15,086	$24,719	Full ROI →
9	Midlands Technical College Grad rate: 15.7%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$311,365	$60,503	$12,709	$24,649	Full ROI →
10	Tri-County Technical College Grad rate: 36.8%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$295,814	$59,913	$16,879	$21,250	Full ROI →
11	Central Carolina Technical College Grad rate: 25.6%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$285,938	$59,033	$13,295	$20,838	Full ROI →
12	Spartanburg Community College Grad rate: 29.2%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$267,111	$57,729	$15,031	$12,894	Full ROI →
13	Spartanburg Community College Grad rate: 29.2%	Precision Metal Working.	+$264,258	$56,716	$15,031	N/A	Full ROI →
14	Piedmont Technical College Grad rate: 30.2%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$249,916	$58,379	$20,438	$27,250	Full ROI →
15	Greenville Technical College Grad rate: 17.4%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$243,065	$57,287	$13,925	$25,796	Full ROI →
16	Spartanburg Community College Grad rate: 29.2%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$242,535	$56,250	$15,031	$9,187	Full ROI →
17	Strayer University-South Carolina	Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management.	+$218,569	$57,214	$23,838	$28,174	Full ROI →
18	York Technical College Grad rate: 31.6%	Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies.	+$210,319	$54,849	$15,399	$11,750	Full ROI →
19	Horry-Georgetown Technical College Grad rate: 27.3%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$206,068	$55,714	$12,391	$32,170	Full ROI →
20	Piedmont Technical College Grad rate: 30.2%	Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians.	+$183,944	$53,241	$20,438	N/A	Full ROI →
21	Piedmont Technical College Grad rate: 30.2%	Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians.	+$182,464	$53,977	$20,438	$12,000	Full ROI →
22	Fortis College-Columbia Grad rate: 33.9%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$180,190	$57,316	$34,276	$42,650	Full ROI →
23	Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Grad rate: 33.8%	Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services.	+$167,612	$51,877	$14,964	N/A	Full ROI →
24	Midlands Technical College Grad rate: 15.7%	Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR).	+$155,262	$51,034	$12,709	N/A	Full ROI →
25	Technical College of the Lowcountry Grad rate: 13.4%	Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.	+$153,368	$51,177	$15,086	N/A	Full ROI →
26	Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Grad rate: 33.8%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$150,127	$52,346	$14,964	$19,900	Full ROI →
27	Greenville Technical College Grad rate: 17.4%	Precision Metal Working.	+$121,070	$49,446	$13,925	N/A	Full ROI →
28	Greenville Technical College Grad rate: 17.4%	Dental Support Services and Allied Professions.	+$106,090	$49,780	$13,925	$16,044	Full ROI →
29	Technical College of the Lowcountry Grad rate: 13.4%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$63,428	$46,680	$15,086	N/A	Full ROI →
30	Greenville Technical College Grad rate: 17.4%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$58,485	$47,255	$13,925	$13,900	Full ROI →
31	Spartanburg Community College Grad rate: 29.2%	Accounting and Related Services.	+$51,338	$46,070	$15,031	N/A	Full ROI →
32	Horry-Georgetown Technical College Grad rate: 27.3%	Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services.	+$48,858	$45,682	$12,391	N/A	Full ROI →
33	Tri-County Technical College Grad rate: 36.8%	Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.	+$45,602	$45,968	$16,879	N/A	Full ROI →
34	Horry-Georgetown Technical College Grad rate: 27.3%	Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians.	+$28,718	$44,675	$12,391	N/A	Full ROI →
35	Central Carolina Technical College Grad rate: 25.6%	Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.	+$26,590	$44,659	$13,295	N/A	Full ROI →
36	York Technical College Grad rate: 31.6%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$14,162	$44,248	$15,399	N/A	Full ROI →
37	Strayer University-South Carolina	Business/Commerce, General.	-$19,709	$45,613	$23,838	$32,810	Full ROI →
38	Greenville Technical College Grad rate: 17.4%	Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies.	-$24,060	$42,932	$13,925	$11,000	Full ROI →
39	Midlands Technical College Grad rate: 15.7%	Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other.	-$27,878	$41,877	$12,709	N/A	Full ROI →
40	Strayer University-South Carolina	Accounting and Related Services.	-$30,956	$42,836	$23,838	N/A	Full ROI →
41	Greenville Technical College Grad rate: 17.4%	Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services.	-$31,619	$43,279	$13,925	$21,740	Full ROI →
42	Greenville Technical College Grad rate: 17.4%	Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions.	-$34,650	$41,660	$13,925	N/A	Full ROI →
43	South University-Columbia Grad rate: 3.9%	Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services.	-$36,892	$45,357	$31,298	$30,694	Full ROI →
44	Technical College of the Lowcountry Grad rate: 13.4%	Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services.	-$53,832	$40,817	$15,086	N/A	Full ROI →
45	Piedmont Technical College Grad rate: 30.2%	Funeral Service and Mortuary Science.	-$57,356	$41,176	$20,438	N/A	Full ROI →
46	Greenville Technical College Grad rate: 17.4%	Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.	-$57,798	$41,705	$13,925	$17,814	Full ROI →
47	York Technical College Grad rate: 31.6%	Criminal Justice and Corrections.	-$58,753	$41,176	$15,399	$8,500	Full ROI →
48	Midlands Technical College Grad rate: 15.7%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	-$65,640	$41,295	$12,709	$19,350	Full ROI →
49	Horry-Georgetown Technical College Grad rate: 27.3%	Dental Support Services and Allied Professions.	-$68,962	$39,791	$12,391	N/A	Full ROI →
50	Midlands Technical College Grad rate: 15.7%	Data Processing.	-$69,095	$40,762	$12,709	$14,013	Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.