Head-to-head comparison
Tri-County Technical College vs Bob Jones 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 Greenville, SC
Bob Jones University
- Net price / year
- $16,641
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,354
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bob Jones University comes closer — median earnings $44,354 against a $66,564 total, vs $40,101 at Tri-County Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tri-County Technical College | Bob Jones University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,670 | $16,641 |
| Total net cost | $58,680 | $66,564 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,101 | $44,354 |
| Median debt | $9,000 | $16,585 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$223,860 | -$146,684 |
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 Bob Jones University?
Tri-County Technical College, at $14,670 a year after aid versus $16,641 — a gap of $1,971 a year, or $7,884 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 Bob Jones University graduates earn more?
Bob Jones University graduates report a median $44,354 ten years after entry, $4,253 more than the $40,101 at Tri-County 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, Tri-County Technical College or Bob Jones University?
Tri-County Technical College: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $16,585 at Bob Jones University, a difference of $7,585. 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?
65% of students finish at Bob Jones University, against 42% at Tri-County 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.