2026 Rankings

    Best Trade Schools in South Carolina

    Data-driven rankings of 39 trade colleges in South Carolina based on graduation rates, student outcomes, and affordability. No paid placements.

    39 Schools RankedPowered by IPEDS Data

    Showing 1–25 of 39 schools

    #1
    64.3/ 100
    Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Goose Creek

    Goose Creek, SC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:83%
    Student-Faculty:7:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$13,468
    Financial Aid:86%
    #2
    61.7/ 100
    Vski Cosmetology School

    Charleston, SC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:74%
    Student-Faculty:5:1
    Programs:2
    Avg Tuition:$6,900
    Financial Aid:100%
    #3
    56.3/ 100
    Southeastern College-Charleston

    North Charleston, SC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:65%
    Student-Faculty:8:1
    Programs:10
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:100%
    #4
    56.1/ 100
    Charleston Cosmetology Institute

    Charleston, SC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:68%
    Student-Faculty:9:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$9,073
    Financial Aid:100%
    #5
    55.7/ 100
    Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Florence

    Florence, SC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:67%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$8,433
    Financial Aid:100%
    #6
    55.2/ 100
    Southeastern Esthetics Institute

    Elgin, SC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:84%
    Student-Faculty:16:1
    Programs:5
    Avg Tuition:$10,580
    Financial Aid:56%
    #7
    53.6/ 100
    Southeastern College-Columbia

    Columbia, SC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:59%
    Student-Faculty:8:1
    Programs:11
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:98%
    #8
    53.0/ 100
    Arclabs

    Piedmont, SC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:78%
    Student-Faculty:15:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$27,600
    Financial Aid:89%
    #9
    50.8/ 100
    Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Columbia

    Columbia, SC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:65%
    Student-Faculty:9:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$13,468
    Financial Aid:96%
    #10
    50.2/ 100
    Paul Mitchell the School-Greenville

    Greenville, SC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:63%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$7,600
    Financial Aid:85%
    #11
    49.4/ 100
    Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Greenville

    Greenville, SC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:65%
    Student-Faculty:11:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$8,433
    Financial Aid:88%
    #12
    48.3/ 100
    Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Rock Hill

    Rock Hill, SC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:61%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$13,468
    Financial Aid:90%
    #13
    48.1/ 100
    Williamsburg Technical College

    Kingstree, SC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:36%
    Student-Faculty:7:1
    Programs:16
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:96%
    #14
    47.9/ 100
    Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Spartanburg

    Spartanburg, SC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:66%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$13,468
    Financial Aid:84%
    #15
    46.4/ 100
    Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College

    Orangeburg, SC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:35%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:39
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:96%
    #16
    45.5/ 100
    Strand College of Hair Design

    Myrtle Beach, SC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:75%
    Student-Faculty:14:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$7,606
    Financial Aid:53%
    #17
    45.3/ 100
    Piedmont Technical College

    Greenwood, SC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:31%
    Student-Faculty:11:1
    Programs:54
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:98%
    #18
    44.8/ 100
    Aiken Technical College logo
    Aiken Technical College

    Graniteville, SC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:24%
    Student-Faculty:7:1
    Programs:34
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:94%
    #18
    44.8/ 100
    Spartanburg Community College logo
    Spartanburg Community College

    Spartanburg, SC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:26%
    Student-Faculty:9:1
    Programs:39
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:96%
    #20
    43.4/ 100
    Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston logo
    Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston

    North Charleston, SC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:58%
    Student-Faculty:14:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$7,575
    Financial Aid:86%
    #21
    43.0/ 100
    Midlands Technical College logo
    Midlands Technical College

    West Columbia, SC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:20%
    Student-Faculty:9:1
    Programs:63
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:91%
    #21
    43.0/ 100
    Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-North Augusta logo
    Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-North Augusta

    North Augusta, SC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:54%
    Student-Faculty:11:1
    Programs:2
    Avg Tuition:$8,173
    Financial Aid:92%
    #23
    42.5/ 100
    Technical College of the Lowcountry logo
    Technical College of the Lowcountry

    Beaufort, SC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:20%
    Student-Faculty:8:1
    Programs:38
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:94%
    #24
    42.3/ 100
    Tri-County Technical College logo
    Tri-County Technical College

    Pendleton, SC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:32%
    Student-Faculty:12:1
    Programs:42
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:93%
    #25
    41.4/ 100
    Paul Mitchell the School-Columbia logo
    Paul Mitchell the School-Columbia

    West Columbia, SC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:48%
    Student-Faculty:14:1
    Programs:5
    Avg Tuition:$9,188
    Financial Aid:84%

    Our rankings evaluate trade and vocational colleges using six weighted metrics derived from federal IPEDS data: graduation rate, student-faculty ratio, program breadth, institutional scale, financial accessibility, and affordability. Schools must meet minimum eligibility requirements to be ranked.

    How are these rankings calculated? View Methodology