TCTC Scores High Amid Rapid Growth
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
With a crane moving steel and construction dust, it’s easy to see some of the growth at the main campus of Tri-County Technical College in Pendleton. But systemwide growth, the school now has more than 5,900 students in credited programs (and another 3,000 in non-credit), might not be as apparent.
President Galen DeHay said the challenges that come with growth are being met, even as the school witnesses another substantial growth pattern moving into the new academic year.
“We’re proud to say that we continue to be the only two-year college in the state of South Carolina that meets and exceeds all state performance metrics,” said DeHay. “We just got our most recent national benchmark study back, and we're in the 98th percentile in transfer student success, and we're in the 93rd percentile in student success overall.”
Working with local business and industry, demand for graduates in programs offered by TCTC continues to grow as well.
Mechatronics remains strong, and healthcare programs are also experiencing some new initiatives, such as the partnership between TCTC, AnMed Health and Elite Physical Therapy in joint ventures together to expand physical therapy offerings. TCTC is also looking for new paths to expand the nursing program as well.
Looking ahead, a new automotive and manufacturing facility on the Anderson campus will open within the next two years expanding automotive technology.
“We are expanding automotive technology, adding a diesel and heavy diesel certificate at the Anderson campus. as well as expanding mechatronics at that campus, expanding heavy equipment and CDL, all located at the Anderson campus,
The $31 million project will also offer programs in electric vehicle maintenance and marine motor repair and maintenance.
Another new program, the first of its kind nationally, works with the five Anderson School Districts in a dual-enrollment academy with Clemson University.
“We're working with our school districts and are going to be identifying this fall a group of students,” said DeHay. They’ll start this next spring of 2026, and those students will take courses with us for about a year and a half to two years through their junior and their senior years. If they complete the requirements and meet the GPA requirements, they will gain guaranteed entry into Clemson University into their choice of major, which is unheard of. So, we're really excited to be able to launch that program this year as well.”
Looking ahead, DeHay said TCTC will work to “continue our focus and grow opportunities for individuals to have for students to have great careers and high potential jobs.”
