Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
#9 Most Affordable Colleges in South Carolina- Graduation Rate
- 37% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $35,761 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $6,186 A-
- 64% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,539
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 33.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $33.4 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Most Affordable Colleges in South Carolina.
Every $1 spent returns $33.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $800,537.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 37% — 36% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $33.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,539
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Humanities, Transportation, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $6,186 a year after grants and scholarships — 64% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $35,761 ten years after enrolling — 12% below the typical college, against $10,562 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.4% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 53% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.49 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of around 1,540 students, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is a solid choice for those interested in practical fields. It suits individuals looking to build skills in areas like Health Professions, Criminal Justice, or Computer Science. The college prioritizes hands-on learning, making it a good fit for students eager to enter the workforce quickly with specific trade skills.
After graduation, students can expect to earn about $35,761 annually within a decade of completing their studies. This figure gives a snapshot of the potential return on investment. With a net price of $6,186 after financial aid, the cost of education here is manageable, especially considering that nearly half of the students receive Pell Grants. This financial support helps ease the burden, allowing graduates to focus on building their careers rather than drowning in debt.
Speaking of debt, the median student loan burden is about $10,562, which is relatively low compared to many institutions. This makes it easier for graduates to find stability in their financial lives. Students who thrive here often appreciate the practical focus and supportive environment, making it a fitting choice for those committed to developing their skills and entering the job market ready to succeed.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College, located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
- Retention Rate
- 66%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 49%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,609
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.54
- First-Gen Students
- 46%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is $8,354, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,186. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,122 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,562 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,210
- Out-of-State
- $8,354
- Avg Net Price
- $6,186
- Median Debt
- $10,562
- Pell Grant Rate
- 45%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 9%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,122
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $5,679
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $4,842
- Family Income $110K+
- $6,853
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College report median earnings of $35,761, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $31,617
- 8 Years
- $33,309
- 10 Years
- $35,761
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.3x
- Earning > $25K
- 41%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (39)
- 16%
- 100% (39)
- 16%
- 100% (39)
- 16%
- 100% (39)
- 16%
How Orangeburg Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,186/year ($24,744 total). Graduates earn $35,761 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $825,281 in total earnings — a net gain of $800,537 (33.4× your investment). The median debt is $10,562, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 37% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $24,744
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $825,281
- Net Return
- $800,537
- ROI Multiple
- 33.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $6,186
- Median Debt
- $10,562
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 37%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.41%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 33.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 4.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $37,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.41%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 4.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 33.4%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $50,542
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $939,324
- Federal Grants
- $687,196
- Investment Income
- $-100,420
Top Programs
The fields Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 44% $70,036 early-career
- Humanities 22%
- Transportation 7% $38,402 early-career
- Criminal Justice 6% $33,980 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 3% $43,440 early-career
- Business & Marketing 2%
- Precision Production 2% $41,658 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College, located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is $8,354, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,186. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,122 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,562 in federal student loans.
Is Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College report median earnings of $35,761, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.41%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 33.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 4.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $37,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.49, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College.
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- Edgecombe Community CollegeTarboro, NC · Close peer45% grad $33,267 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Panola CollegeCarthage, TX · Close peer42% grad $36,072 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Southwest Virginia Community CollegeCedar Bluff, VA · Close peer45% grad $34,221 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Danville Area Community CollegeDanville, IL · Close peer41% grad $34,867 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.49, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note