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Faith Cabin Library at Anderson County Training SchoolFaith Cabin Library at Anderson County Training School · Photo: KudzuVine · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Pendleton

Pendleton is home to Tri-County Technical College

Tri-County Technical College (4,978 students on campus) is inside the town, and Clemson University (26,630) is 4.1 miles from the center, just over the line in Clemson. About 11% of Pendleton’s residents are enrolled in college, above South Carolina (6%).

Tri-County Technical CollegeClemson University

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Pendleton. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
4
35,955 students on campus
Nearest college
0.7 mi
Tri-County Technical College
Residents in college
11%
Above SC (6%)
Nearest community college
0.7 mi
Tri-County Technical College · $4,448 tuition
Nearest public university
4.1 mi
Clemson University · $15,554 in-state
Median household income
$62K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Pendleton

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Two colleges within 4.1 milesClemson University admits 38% of applicants. Together they have 31,608 students on campus.A community college 0.7 miles awayTri-County Technical College in Pendleton: tuition and fees $4,448 a year for South Carolina residents.In-state price at Clemson UniversityLiving in South Carolina, Clemson University charges $15,554 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $40,866. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 11% of residentsAbove South Carolina (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Pendleton

Two private colleges within 11.8 miles, one public college within 4.1 miles, and Tri-County Technical College 0.7 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miClemson UniversityTri-County Technical CollegeAnderson UniversityPendleton
University or collegeCommunity college
Tri-County Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,978 on campus · In Pendleton$15knet price42%graduate$40kearningsTuition and fees: $4,448 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Clemson UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 26,630 on campus · 4.1 mi · Clemson38%admitted$22knet price87%graduate$72kearningsSouthern Wesleyan UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 738 on campus · 6 mi · Central100%admitted$15knet price52%graduate$48kearningsAnderson UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,609 on campus · 11.8 mi · Anderson55%admitted$24knet price66%graduate$42kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Pendleton’s median household income ($61,901) falls.

Southern Wesleyan University6 mi · Central · sticker $39,914$14,230a year
Tri-County Technical CollegeIn Pendleton · sticker $25,057 · tuition $4,448$15,201a year
Clemson University4.1 mi · Clemson · sticker $35,015$18,851a year
Anderson University11.8 mi · Anderson · sticker $50,192$19,647a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Pendleton: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Tri-County Technical CollegeClemson UniversitySouthern Wesleyan UniversityAnderson University
Clemson University87% graduate$72k earnings$22k typical debt
Tri-County Technical College42% graduate$40k earnings$9k typical debt
Anderson University66% graduate$42k earnings$27k typical debt
Southern Wesleyan University52% graduate$48k earnings$26k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Pendleton

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Tri-County Technical College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 48%Mechanics & repair 12%Precision production 10%Health professions 8%Engineering tech 7%Business 6%Everything else 9%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities375 graduates a year
$41k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing94 graduates a year
$77k4 yrs out
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians34 graduates a year
$42k4 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians27 graduates a year
$71k4 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other24 graduates a year
$63k4 yrs out
Data Processing18 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections16 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Pendleton

Is Pendleton a college town?

No. About 11 of every 100 Pendleton residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above South Carolina (6). The largest campus in the town, Tri-County Technical College, has 4,978 students on campus.

What colleges are in Pendleton?

Tri-County Technical College is inside the town. Clemson University is 4.1 miles from the center, in Clemson.

What is the closest community college to Pendleton, and what does it cost?

Tri-County Technical College in Pendleton, 0.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,448 a year for South Carolina residents; the federal net price, $14,670, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Clemson University cost if we live in South Carolina?

Tuition and fees are $15,554 a year in-state and $40,866 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $13,607 (under $30,000 income) to $27,922 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Pendleton. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →