2026 Best Value Visual Communications Schools in South Carolina

[Visual Communications](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/visual-communications/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong visual communications education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for visual communications students.
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2026 Best Value Visual Communications Schools in South Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the visual communications degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Visual Communications Schools
For return on investment in visual communications, no school beat Trident Technical College this year. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,546, while out-of-state students pay about $8,620. Typical student debt for visual communications graduates is $18,116. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from Trident Technical College generally make around $50,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Horry Georgetown Technical College earned it the #2 place for visual communications. Set in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,518, with out-of-state students paying around $10,978. Typical student debt for visual communications graduates is $17,500. Early-career visual communications graduates make about $22,024. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in visual communications will find it at Tri County Technical College, which ranked #3. Tri County Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Pendleton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,448, while out-of-state students pay about $12,007. Students borrow a median of $15,787 to complete the visual communications program here. Early-career visual communications graduates make about $43,438. That is a strong return on a $15,787 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in visual communications will find it at Piedmont Technical College, which ranked #4. Piedmont Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,775, with out-of-state students paying around $6,923. Visual Communications graduates carry a median of $17,652 in student loans. Visual Communications graduates of Piedmont Technical College earn a median of $36,577 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Winthrop University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual communications, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,678, while out-of-state students pay about $28,676. Typical student debt for visual communications graduates is $29,917. Visual Communications graduates of Winthrop University earn a median of $40,119 early in their careers. Set against $29,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Winthrop University admits about 79% of applicants.
Furman University placed #6 among the best values for visual communications. Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Greenville. Students from in state pay about $59,770 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,764 to complete the visual communications program here. Early-career visual communications graduates make about $36,520. Set against $23,764 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
More Visual Communications Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.