The Technical College of the Lowcountry reported that out-of-state tuition fees did not change for the 2022-23 academic year, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.
South Carolina residents paid $6,076 to attend the two-year public college this year, an increase of $336 from the $5,740 charged during the 2021-22 academic year.
Non-resident students were charged $11,020 for the 2022-23 school year, which is 81.4% higher than the resident tuition. This amount remained consistent with the previous year’s fee.
Approximately 94% of the undergraduate student body at the college are South Carolina residents, while about 6% come from other states.
Data indicates that 98% of full-time undergraduates who enrolled at the Technical College of the Lowcountry in 2022-23 received some form of financial aid. Among them, 150 students were awarded grants or scholarships totaling $1 million, and 15 students obtained loans exceeding $62,662.
Overall, 1,667 undergraduates benefited from grants or scholarships amounting to $6.5 million. Additionally, 122 students borrowed a total of $836,398 in federal student loans.
Undergraduate education costs have seen a significant increase over the past few decades. Data shows a 169% rise in the average total cost, including tuition, fees, room, and board, between 1980 and 2020.
According to a 2023 College Board report, in-state students at public universities paid an average of $11,260, while out-of-state students paid $29,150 in the 2023-24 academic year.
Meanwhile, student loan debt has steadily increased over the last 30 years, reaching $1.75 trillion in 2024, averaging a total of $28,950 per borrower. Federal loans make up 92% of the debt, with over half of students at both public and private four-year colleges graduating with student loans.
Available data sometimes exceeds 100% due to rounding and administrative calculations.
| Type of Aid | Number of students awarded aid | Percent awarded aid | Total amount of aid awarded | Average amount of aid per student |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal grants | 150 | 98% | $491,526 | $3,277 |
| State / local grant or scholarship | 108 | 71% | $410,136 | $3,798 |
| Institutional grants or scholarships | 66 | 43% | $131,549 | $1,993 |
| Grant or scholarship aid total | 150 | 98% | $1 million | $6,888 |
| Federal student loans | 15 | 10% | $62,662 | $4,177 |
| Other student loans | 0 | 0% | $0 | $0 |
| Student loan aid | 15 | 10% | $62,662 | $4,177 |
| Total student aid | 150 | 98% | $1.1 million | $7,305 |
