Head-to-head comparison
Tri-County Technical College vs Allen University: which has better ROI?
Option A Pendleton, SC
Tri-County Technical College
- Net price / year
- $14,670
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,101
- 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 Tri-County Technical College comes closer — median earnings $40,101 against a $58,680 total, vs $30,497 at Allen University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tri-County Technical College | Allen University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,670 | $10,972 |
| Total net cost | $58,680 | $43,888 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,101 | $30,497 |
| Median debt | $9,000 | $34,290 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$223,860 | -$401,148 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Tri-County Technical College or Allen University?
Allen University, at $10,972 a year after aid versus $14,670 — a gap of $3,698 a year, or $14,792 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 Tri-County Technical College or Allen University graduates earn more?
Tri-County Technical College graduates report a median $40,101 ten years after entry, $9,604 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, Tri-County Technical College or Allen University?
Tri-County Technical College: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $34,290 at Allen University, a difference of $25,290. 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?
42% of students finish at Tri-County 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.