April is Community College Month

Community colleges serve 11.5 million students nationally, making the two-year degree the first choice for almost half of the undergraduate students in the U.S.

With enrollment exceeding 9,000 annually, Tri-County still offers small classes taught by full-time, experienced faculty with real-world backgrounds who can offer practical, one-on-one instruction.

Reasons to Attend TCTC

• More than 70 majors.

• Lowest tuition in the Upstate.

• Highest success rate among state’s 16 technical colleges.

• Ranked in top 1% nationally for successful transfer.

• Nearly 80% of students receive financial assistance and scholarships.

• 19:1 student-faculty ratio.

• Five locations to serve you.

• Home to nationally-known Bridge to Clemson program.

Students of all demographics come to Tri-County Technical College at different stages of their lives. Some are traditional, others very non-traditional. Among the student population are working moms, displaced workers, those embarking on second careers, and recent high school graduates, as well as high school dropouts. Many go the university transfer route with the goal of transferring to a four-year college or university while others enroll in the technical programs to prepare to work in today’s advanced manufacturing facilities. A large number return to college to obtain new skills to stay competitive or advance in their careers. But they all share a common purpose. Most have personal and professional success as their goal; however, they are taking different and diverse routes to arrive at the same destination.

We are proud of our graduates, many of whom who have become leaders in their communities and are inspiring others.

Wallace Cobbs

• Principal at Welcome Elementary School, Greenville.

• A member of the First Bridge to Clemson class (2006).

• Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, Clemson University.

• Master’s degree, Southern Wesleyan University.

• Pursuing Ph. D.

Cpl. Jesus De Luna Soto

• School Resource Officer at Seneca Middle School.

• Criminal Justice degree, 2015.

• Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Anderson University, 2019.

Claire Pearson

• Pharmacist at Wal-Mart in Clemson.

• Pre-Pharmacy degree, 2009.

• Pharmacy degree, Presbyterian College of Pharmacy.

Dakota Phillips

• Fabrication Shop Manager, JDI Industrial Services in Westminster.

• 2016 Welding degree.

• Air Force Veteran.

Ronicka Craig

• Branch Manager for Spero Financial in Anderson.

• 2002 Business Management degree.

Shan Smith

• Chief Operating Officer of Good Sense Automation, LLC.

• Three-time graduate of TCTC with degrees in General Engineering Technology, Industrial Electronics Technology, and Business Management.

Dr. Smith Heavner

• Public Health Scientist and currently serves as the Scientific Director of the CURE Drug Repurposing Collaboratory, an international research consortium.

• Practical Nursing degree in 2010; Associate Degree in Nursing, 2012.

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Clemson University in 2014; Doctor of Philosophy from Clemson University in 2021; and currently he is engaged in the Global Clinical Scholars Program at Harvard Medical School.

Lillian Boatwright

• Sales Operation Manager at BoomTown.

• Associate in Arts degree, TCTC.

• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management, Coker College.