At $10,862/yr net price, Piedmont Technical College graduates earn $35,768/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $1,768/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $10,862 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $43,448 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $35,768/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$1,768/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 24.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 33.3% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $15,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $10,778/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,509/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,097/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,539/yr |
| $110,001+ | $14,497/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $56,234 | $17,035 |
| Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians. | Associate | $52,941 | |
| Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians. | Associate | $50,856 | |
| Precision Metal Working. | Associate | $46,087 | |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Associate | $44,886 | $18,750 |
| Precision Metal Working. | Certificate | $37,424 | |
| Funeral Service and Mortuary Science. | Associate | $36,848 | |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR). | Associate | $33,281 | |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Certificate | $32,391 | $7,500 |
| Data Processing. | Associate | $29,685 |
The Risk Factor
33.3% of students at Piedmont Technical College graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
Piedmont Technical College sends you out with a median $35,768 a year ten years after enrolling, and that number hides a wide split. Your program choice decides everything here. Nursing graduates clear $56,234, and the technical associate degrees line up close behind: electromechanical instrumentation at $52,941 and electrical engineering technology at $50,856. These pay for machinery and healthcare work that South Carolina's Upstate manufacturing and hospital employers actually hire for. Pick one of these and the roughly $11,000 yearly net price returns quickly.
The gap between the median and the top programs is the warning. If your major sits far from nursing or the electrical and mechanical trades, you land closer to the $35,768 figure, which is thin against $15,000 in typical debt. Nursing carries higher debt at $17,035, but its earnings absorb that easily. A general or transfer track without a clear labor-market target is where the money stops working.
The bigger risk is finishing at all. Only a third of students graduate. Debt with no credential is the worst outcome this school can hand you, and two out of three enrollees are exposed to some version of it.
Your net price barely moves with income. Families under $48,000 pay around $10,500, and those over $110,000 pay $14,497. There is little sticker relief at the bottom, so the price is close to flat regardless of what you earn.
Piedmont works for you if you enroll in nursing or a technical trade and finish. If you plan to drift through general courses or you're unsure you'll complete the degree, the return here is weak and you should look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Piedmont Technical College worth the money?
Piedmont Technical College offers reasonable value for specific programs, with nursing graduates earning around $56,000 annually against typical debt of $15,000. However, the overall graduate earnings of $35,768 after 10 years barely justify the cost for many programs, and the 33% graduation rate means two-thirds of students don't finish.
What are the best paying programs at Piedmont Technical College?
Nursing programs at Piedmont Technical College provide the strongest ROI, with graduates earning $56,234 annually. Electromechanical instrumentation ($52,941) and electrical engineering technology ($50,856) also offer solid returns that justify the typical $15,000 in student debt.
How much debt do Piedmont Technical College graduates have?
Piedmont Technical College graduates typically carry $15,000 in debt, which is manageable for high-paying programs like nursing or electrical technology. This debt level becomes problematic for graduates in lower-paying fields who earn closer to the school's $35,768 average.
What is the graduation rate at Piedmont Technical College?
Only 33% of students graduate from Piedmont Technical College, meaning most students leave without a credential. This low completion rate significantly reduces the school's value proposition and increases the risk of debt without degree benefits.