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Southeastern College-Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina · Private for-profit career college · Training programs available:
Address: 581 Columbia Mall Boulevard, Columbia, SC 29223 · Phone: (803) 798-8800 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Sanction on record, since lifted — Mar 2024 · Probation · American Occupational Therapy Association; Aug 2026 · Renewal of Accreditation.
Southeastern College-Columbia is a private for-profit trade school in Columbia, SC offering massage therapy, medical assistant, and radiology programs, accredited by ABHES and ACCSC.
Southeastern College-Columbia has a 66.7% completion rate, above the state average of 52.0%, with median graduate debt of $9,500 and median earnings of $31,156 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Southeastern College-Columbia; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including Pell Grants, can be used here, and 77.1% of students receive Pell.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massage therapists | $17,340 | $58,000 | $74,040 |
| Medical assistants | $34,730 | $41,160 | $46,950 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $51,860 | $69,600 | $82,560 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in South Carolina (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 59 | $21,896 | $17,218 | $7,811 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 26 | $23,159 | $18,877 | $9,500 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 18 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Southeastern College-Columbia is a private for-profit trade and career school located in Columbia, South Carolina. It participates in federal Title IV financial aid, meaning students can use FAFSA-based aid, including Pell Grants, to help pay for their education. The campus holds accreditation through the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools, the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, the American Occupational Therapy Association's Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. Its most-awarded programs are massage therapy, medical assistant training, and radiology and sonography programs, drawn from a total of five program families offered on this campus.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 66.7%, above the state average of 52.0%. Graduates carry a median debt of $9,500, and median earnings ten years after entry are reported at $31,156. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 77.1% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of the student body qualifies for need-based federal aid.
With 112 trade completers among an undergraduate enrollment of 267, and programs concentrated in hands-on health and wellness fields, this campus may suit students seeking focused, career-specific training rather than a traditional multi-year degree path. Program lengths are not detailed in the data provided, so prospective students should confirm schedules directly with the school. To verify accreditation status and review the latest outcome figures, prospective students can consult the listed accreditors directly or search the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Southeastern College-Columbia offers five program families, most notably massage therapy schools, medical assistant programs, and radiology & sonography programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools, the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, the American Occupational Therapy Association's Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA-based aid, including Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 66.7%, which is above the South Carolina state average of 52.0%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt among graduates is reported at $9,500.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings ten years after entry are reported at $31,156.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (803) 798-8800 or visit sec.edu for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a private for-profit school, which typically means tuition and financing structures differ from public or non-profit institutions, so students should carefully review costs and aid terms.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported in the data provided; contact the school directly to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can review the school's accreditation and federal outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?444866.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers focused programs in massage therapy, medical assisting, and radiology, which may suit students seeking career-specific training, though specific fit for career changers is not detailed in federal data.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can contact Southeastern College-Columbia at (803) 798-8800 or through its website, https://www.sec.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Federal data does not provide direct comparisons with other schools; prospective students can use the College Scorecard to compare completion rates, debt, and earnings across schools.
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Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.