Career Training Path › South Carolina › Technical College of the Lowcountry
Technical College of the Lowcountry
Beaufort, South Carolina · Public technical college · Training programs available:
Address: 921 Ribaut Road, Beaufort, SC 29901 · Phone: (800) 768-8252 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Technical College of the Lowcountry is a public trade school in Beaufort, South Carolina, offering cosmetology, medical assistant, and culinary programs, accredited by SACS and program-specific bodies.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Technical College of the Lowcountry has a 17.6% completion rate versus a 52.0% state average, with graduates carrying $10,000 median debt and median earnings of $35,090 ten years after entry.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Technical College of the Lowcountry; federal financial aid including FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used, and about 33.0% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $21,340 | $33,700 | $56,770 |
| Medical assistants | $34,730 | $41,160 | $46,950 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $47,640 | $71,860 | $79,050 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $51,860 | $69,600 | $82,560 |
| Electricians | $44,330 | $58,740 | $66,190 |
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $39,170 | $56,610 | $62,990 |
| Massage therapists | $17,340 | $58,000 | $74,040 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters | $37,660 | $53,940 | $64,000 |
| Construction laborers | $31,200 | $42,940 | $49,120 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $50,370 | $61,820 | $71,220 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 20 | not reported | $19,455 | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 13 | not reported | $21,508 | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 11 | $45,504 | $42,682 | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 11 | not reported | $40,551 | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 6 | not reported | $19,455 | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | 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
Technical College of the Lowcountry is a public trade and career training campus in Beaufort, South Carolina. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here (title IV eligible). The college holds accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, along with program-specific accreditors including the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. Its most-awarded programs are cosmetology, medical assisting, and culinary & pastry arts, drawn from a broader list of 14 program families that also includes radiologic technology, electrical, HVAC, massage therapy, plumbing, construction trades, and LPN programs.
Looking at the numbers reported to the U.S. Department of Education: the completion rate is 17.6%, which is below the state average of 52.0%. Graduates carry a median debt of $10,000, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $35,090. About 33.0% of students receive Pell Grants. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
This campus may suit students interested in short, hands-on trade programs such as cosmetology or culinary arts, as well as those pursuing more clinical fields like medical assisting or radiologic technology. Whether it fits an adult career-changer depends on program length and schedule details not included in this data — contact the school directly to confirm. To verify accreditation status and review the latest federal outcome figures yourself, check the accreditors listed above and the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Technical College of the Lowcountry offers 14 program families, with cosmetology, medical assistant, and culinary & pastry programs being the most awarded. It also offers radiologic technology, electrician, HVAC, massage therapy, plumbing, construction trades, and LPN programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited. Accreditors include the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, 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, meaning FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 17.6%, which is below the South Carolina state average of 52.0%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $10,000, per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $35,090, per federal data.
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 (800) 768-8252 or visit tcl.edu for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public school, which typically means lower tuition for state residents and eligibility for state-funded aid programs, though specific tuition figures are not reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported in this data; contact the school directly at (800) 768-8252 or via tcl.edu to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can review accreditation details through the listed accreditors and check federal outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?217712.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
Program length and schedule details needed to assess career-changer fit are not included in this data; contact the school to discuss options for adult learners.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Specific licensing or certification requirements are not reported in this data; contact the school at (800) 768-8252 to ask about requirements for specific programs.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Technical College of the Lowcountry at (800) 768-8252 or visit https://tcl.edu/ for application details.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with other nearby schools is not reported here; use the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?217712 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.