Head-to-head comparison
Piedmont Technical College vs Allen University: which has better ROI?
Option A Greenwood, SC
Piedmont Technical College
- Net price / year
- $11,366
- Earnings, 10 years
- $35,768
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Columbia, SC
Allen University
- Net price / year
- $10,972
- Earnings, 10 years
- $30,497
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Piedmont Technical College comes closer — median earnings $35,768 against a $45,464 total, vs $30,497 at Allen University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Piedmont Technical College | Allen University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,366 | $10,972 |
| Total net cost | $45,464 | $43,888 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,768 | $30,497 |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $34,290 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$297,304 | -$401,148 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Piedmont Technical College or Allen University?
Allen University, at $10,972 a year after aid versus $11,366 — a gap of $394 a year, or $1,576 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Piedmont Technical College or Allen University graduates earn more?
Piedmont Technical College graduates report a median $35,768 ten years after entry, $5,271 more than the $30,497 at Allen University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Piedmont Technical College or Allen University?
Piedmont Technical College: its completers carry a median $15,000 in federal loans versus $34,290 at Allen University, a difference of $19,290. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
33% of students finish at Piedmont Technical College, against 13% at Allen University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.