Head-to-head comparison
Piedmont Technical College vs Lander 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 Greenwood, SC
Lander University
- Net price / year
- $15,363
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,396
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lander University comes closer — median earnings $42,396 against a $61,452 total, vs $35,768 at Piedmont Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Piedmont Technical College | Lander University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,366 | $15,363 |
| Total net cost | $45,464 | $61,452 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,768 | $42,396 |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$297,304 | -$180,732 |
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 Lander University?
Piedmont Technical College, at $11,366 a year after aid versus $15,363 — a gap of $3,997 a year, or $15,988 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 Lander University graduates earn more?
Lander University graduates report a median $42,396 ten years after entry, $6,628 more than the $35,768 at Piedmont Technical College. 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 Lander University?
Piedmont Technical College: its completers carry a median $15,000 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Lander University, a difference of $10,000. 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?
50% of students finish at Lander University, against 33% at Piedmont Technical College. 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.