Student Support Services is a discretionary grant program administered through the US Department of Education and operated by institutions of higher education, public and private agencies and organizations. There are six programs funded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. These include: Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math/Science, Talent Search, Educational Opportunity Center, Ronald E. McNair Achievement Programs, and Student Support Services. These programs are known as the Federal TRiO Programs.

TRiO Programs are designed to help students overcome traditional barriers (class, social and cultural) to higher education. They provide information and counseling, academic guidance and instruction, tutoring, assistance in applying for financial aid, encouragement and support. In addition to Student Support Services, Trident Technical College houses three other TRiO programs. They are Upward Bound Math Science, Talent Search, and Educational Opportunity Center.

Student Support Services is funded by a four-year federal grant. The Program helps students who have academic needs to reach their educational and career goals through counseling, tutoring, transfer advising and other services. It also helps students make the most of their time in college and prepares them for life after graduation. It provides support services such as personal counseling, academic advice, assistance in obtaining financial aid, attendance to cultural activities, small equipment loans, help in selecting a program of study, help in transferring to another college, mid-term report, tour of four-year colleges, tutoring and specially designed workshops to low-income, disadvantaged, and disabled students. The Program is designed to improve the retention and graduation rates of low-income, first-generation, and disabled students. In order to qualify to participate in Student Support Services, students must be enrolled at Trident Technical College and show academic need. They must come from low-income families, qualify as first generation college students (neither parent graduated from a 4-year college) or have a documented disability. The program is required to serve 200 students each year.

Student Support Services is a component of the Student Success Center and works closely with the other offices, including the Learning Assistance Lab (LAS) and the Counseling and Advising Center. Student Support Services staff also work closely with a number of community agencies. The program serves students at each of the (3) Trident Technical College campuses, with the majority of the students from the Main Campus. The staff of Student Support Services consists of a director, two full-time counselors, one part-time counselor, one administrative specialist, a tutor coordinator, an office assistant and several tutors.