Higher Education
Clemson University
Ranked No. 20 among national public universities, Clemson University is a major, land-grant, science-and engineering-oriented research University that maintains a strong commitment to teaching and student success. Approximately 21,000 undergraduate and graduate students study on the 1,400-acre campus. Students may choose from more than 70 degree programs offered through the university’s five colleges: Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences; Architecture, Arts and Humanities; Business and Behavioral Science; Engineering and Science; and Health, Education and Human Development.
The University has its own 17,500-acre experimental forest and is home to the 295-acre South Carolina Botanical Garden. The International Town and Gown Association was founded at Clemson and the University/City of Clemson relationship was ranked No. 1 nationally five times by The Princeton Review. With a nationally prominent athletic department, its 19 varsity sports drew a total of more than 400,000 to events on campus in the 2013-2014 year. The variety of sports attest to the well-rounded character and family atmosphere at Clemson.
Southern Wesleyan University
Southern Wesleyan University is a four year liberal arts institution committed to Christian values and principles. Under University President Dr. Todd Voss, SWU is undertaking a major address of Christian education coupled with innovation and growth on several fronts. His leadership is a commitment to lead the way to new avenues of spiritual commitment and character development, supported by new methods of educational delivery, a new vanguard curriculum and new innovative programs.
Nestled in scenic upstate South Carolina, the 350 rolling-acre main campus is located in the historic town of Central and is home to over 700 traditional students. The diverse student body has the opportunity to choose from more than 40 areas of study within the School of Business, School of Education, and College of Arts and Sciences.
Southern Wesleyan Athletics is currently a candidacy member of the NCAA Division II, with all 17 sports competing in Conference Carolinas. SWU Athletics also holds dual membership with the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). In 2013, SWU brought home two NCCAA national championship titles for men’s soccer and men’s individual golf.
SWU also offers evening and fully-online programs for working adults, with evening programs offered at the main campus as well as regional education centers across the state, located in Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, and North Augusta. Evening and online program options allow adults to earn their degree while still meeting their personal and professional responsibilities.
Southern Wesleyan University is dedicated to providing an intentional, Christ-centered academic community where transforming experiences lead to a lifetime of significance.
Tri-County Technical College
Tri-County Technical College is a public two-year community and technical college serving Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens counties in South Carolina. The college system enrolls more than 9,000 students annually and offers more than 70 major fields of study, including computer technology, industrial electronics, mechatronics, nursing, and university transfer programs. Tri-County boasts the highest student success rate among two-year colleges in South Carolina and ranks in the 95th percentile nationally among community colleges whose students successfully transfer to four-year colleges and universities. A great investment of student and taxpayer dollars, Tri-County offers a
three-to-one return on every dollar spent on education and training, and graduates of its technical programs are in great demand for jobs by advanced manufacturing companies in the region.
Founded in 1962 on land donated by Clemson University, Tri-County Technical College has grown from a technical education center with one building in Pendleton to a comprehensive community college with four campuses in its three-county service area. The Anderson campus opened in 2007, soon followed by a campus in Easley and a site at the Hamilton Career Center in Seneca. In 2013, the College opened its Industrial Technology Center in Sandy Springs.
Tri-County Technical College is also home to the nationally-known Bridge to Clemson program, a unique freshman year program that blends the traditional academic experience at Tri-County with the social and cultural experiences of being a Clemson University student, as well as the Connect to College program, a “second chance” opportunity for students who, for a variety of reasons, have not been successful in a traditional high school setting.
Tri-County Technical College also plays an important role in preparing a technically skilled workforce for advanced manufacturing companies in the region. The College recently opened a state-of-the-art Industrial Technology Center in Sandy Springs, as well as a QuickJobs Training Center on its Anderson Campus located on Michelin Boulevard. Tuition is the lowest in the area and nearly eighty percent of students receive some form of free financial aid, including Pell Grants, Lottery Tuition Assistance, LIFE scholarships, and Foundation scholarships.
In addition to academic programs, Tri-County offers continuing education training, career development, and personal interest courses to more than 13,000 people each year, including contract training for local industry, professional certifications, and workforce training.