Trade Schools in Charleston, SC

Charleston, SC has 5 schools with trade and career programs in this directory: 1 public and 4 private. Together they graduated 633 students from these programs in the latest federal count.

Published program tuition runs from $5,000 to $25,240, with a median of $15,600 across the 9 programs that report a program price.

Graduates earned a median of $40,267 one year after finishing, where the Department of Education reports earnings for the program.

The largest programs by graduates are at Trident Technical College, Miller-Motte College-Charleston and Charleston Cosmetology Institute.

5
Schools
633
Graduates last year
$15,600
Median program tuition
$40,267
Median earnings, 1 yr after

All 5 schools in Charleston, SC

Sorted by size. Tap a name for details.

Trident Technical College

Charleston, SC

Programs
Auto Mechanic, Aviation Maintenance, CDL Truck Driving and Cosmetology and 8 more
Completion rate
33%
Type
Public

Charleston Cosmetology Institute

Charleston, SC

Programs
Cosmetology, Esthetician and Nail Technician
Average net price
$17,285
Completion rate
65%
Type
Private for-profit

Vski Cosmetology School

Charleston, SC

Programs
Cosmetology and Esthetician
Average net price
$8,906
Completion rate
92%
Type
Private nonprofit

Also within 30 miles of Charleston

Southeastern College-Charleston

North Charleston, SC

Programs
Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing and Coding and Surgical Technologist
Average net price
$32,853
Completion rate
73%
Type
Private for-profit

Common questions

How much does trade school training cost in Charleston, SC?

The median published tuition is $15,600 (range $5,000 to $25,240, 9 programs reporting). The lowest listed prices are at Miller-Motte College-Charleston ($5,000), Charleston Cosmetology Institute ($5,150) and Vski Cosmetology School ($6,900). Public community and technical colleges often charge less but report tuition per year rather than per program, so check each school's net price calculator.

How long does trade school school take?

Programs that report a length take a median of 10 months to finish (1 to 15 months). Certificates are shorter; associate degrees usually take about two years.

How much do trade school graduates earn?

Across 22 programs with reported outcomes, the median graduate earned $40,267 one year after finishing (U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard). Earnings vary by program and local labor market.

Are there public trade school programs in Charleston, SC?

Yes. 1 public school offer it, including Trident Technical College.

Data: U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2024-25 and College Scorecard (October 2026 release). Listings change; confirm details with the school before you go. How this directory is built.