Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College (commonly referred to as OC Tech) is an associate’s degree granting institution located in Orangeburg, South Carolina. It was founded in 1968, and today offers a number of different degrees and certifications across a wide range of subjects, with an enrollment of just over 2,000 students. Classes are designed to be small, with attention geared toward providing an intimate experience to each student.
| Overall Score (about) | 61.5 |
| Total Cost On-Campus Attendance | $5,866 |
| Admission Success rate | N/A |
| Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty | 12 : 1 |
| Retention (full-time / part-time) | 59% / 30% |
| Enrollment Total (all students) | 2,387 |
OC Tech has more than 75 programs of study available for enrolling students, spread out across associate’s degree, diploma, and certificate programs. The college is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
The most popular field of study is health sciences and nursing, collectively. Nearly 200 distinct degrees are offered in this subject, including registered nursing, nursing assistant, medical lab assistant, dental hygienist, and health diagnostics. The business department is also strong, with associate’s degrees offered in accounting and general business, along with certificates in basic accounting, pre-business (designed for students intent on transferring to a four-year business program), and small business management.
Students looking to pursue a career in Industrial Technology would be well-advised to consider OC Tech as an option for furthering their education. Associate’s degrees are offered in automotive technology, industrial electronics, technology, and machine tool technology, along with a slew of certificates in courses such as computer aided design, systems repair, and transmission repair. Robotics is also a focus.
One of the unique programs offered at OC Tech is the series of Bridge Agreements with four year institutions within the state, including Clemson, South Carolina State University, and the University of South Carolina. A great way to learn about the different options available is to join a Bridge Club, where you can discuss potential transfer opportunities with both professional advisors and other students contemplating making the jump.
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College operates on an open admission basis.
All incoming students must take the COMPASS placement exam. The test takes roughly 1.5-2 hours to complete. Students are encouraged to make an appointment to take the test, though walk-ins are accommodated on a case by case basis.
A variety of financial aid options are available to students, both on a need and merit basis.
A number of scholarships are available to qualified applicants. One of the most popular is the LIFE scholarship, which is limited to South Carolina residents who graduated from an in-state high school with at least a 3.0 GPA. These students are entitled to up to 4 semesters towards an associate’s degree, or 2 semesters towards the completion of another diploma or certificate.
Foundation Scholarships are available through the OC Tech Foundation, with applications due each July. Another unique grant program comes by way of the South Carolina lottery. Up to 900 dollars is eligible to be applied against the tuition bills of full-time students at OC Tech.
Finally, the standard suite of Federal and State loans applies; students are advised to speak to the financial aid office for more information.
All students commute to class, as there are no dormitories on campus. The median age is 18-19 (with 23% of students falling into that age group), but a diverse range is represented, from enrollees under 18 to senior citizens. 97% of students come from South Carolina, along with a small smattering from Florida and other states.
A recently completed addition to the campus is the 5.2 million dollar Student Services Building, which includes a Cyber Café and the Tourville Learning Lab. Buildings around campus continue to be updated, with the most recent renovations coming to the Gressette and Williams facilities.
The Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Library is spread across two separate locations in the Gressette Learning Resource Center, as well as the Health Sciences Building.
A number of on-campus organizations exist to foster a sense of community, including the Future Practical Nurses’ Club, the International Club, and the Creative Writing Club.
The following sports can be found here:
Orangeburg is about one hour’s drive from the capital of South Carolina, the city of Columbia, and approximately two hours south of Charlotte. Both of these major cities offer entertainment to students of OC Tech. Students looking for fun on the weekends are also known to frequent nearby South Carolina State University.
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