At $17,182/yr net price, South College graduates earn $36,642/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $2,642/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $17,182 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $68,728 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $36,642/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$2,642/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 26 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 36.7% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $18,668 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $16,059/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,219/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,193/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,707/yr |
| $110,001+ | $26,550/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. | Doctoral | $121,650 | |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Master | $104,440 | $159,756 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $51,482 | $29,167 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $38,829 | |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Master | $38,289 | |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Associate | $38,289 | $19,916 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Bachelor | $38,289 | |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Associate | $37,568 | $19,417 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor | $36,848 | |
| Food Science and Technology. | Certificate | $31,133 |
The Risk Factor
36.7% of students at South College graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
The math at South College is tight. Ten years out, your median earnings sit around $36,642, and the school costs about $17,000 a year. That means paying for four years costs nearly double what you'll earn in a single year afterward, and a 36.7% graduation rate means most people who enroll never finish. If you leave with debt but no degree, you carry the cost with none of the payoff.
Nursing is the one program here that clearly works. It pays about $51,500, roughly $12,000 more than any other major on the list, and it's the reason to consider this school at all. The tradeoff is debt: nursing grads leave owing about $29,000, well above the school's $18,668 median. That debt is worth it at nursing salaries but would be a heavy load anywhere else.
Everything below nursing looks weak. Business, allied health, and accounting all land in the high $30,000s, which barely clears what the typical grad earns. Criminal justice sits at $29,141, low enough that four years of tuition is hard to justify. If one of these is your plan, the numbers don't support borrowing much for it.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families and punish middle earners. If your family makes under $48k, you pay around $16,000-$17,000. Cross into the $75k-$110k band and the price jumps to $23,700, then $26,550 above $110k, with no earnings bump to match.
South College makes financial sense if you're set on nursing and will finish. For any other major, or if there's real risk you won't graduate, the low completion rate and flat earnings make this a bad bet. Look at cheaper public options first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South College worth the money?
South College's ROI depends heavily on your program choice. Pharmacy and allied health graduates earn $104,000-$121,000 annually, making the $17,182 yearly cost worthwhile, but business graduates average only $38,829 with similar debt levels.
What is the graduation rate at South College?
South College has a 37% graduation rate, meaning nearly two-thirds of students don't finish their degrees. This creates significant financial risk since you'll still owe money even if you don't graduate.
How much debt do South College graduates have?
South College graduates carry a median debt of $18,668, which is manageable for pharmacy and nursing graduates but creates payment challenges for business majors earning under $40,000 annually.
Which South College programs have the best ROI?
Pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences offer the strongest returns at South College, with graduates earning over $121,000 annually. Nursing and allied health programs also provide solid returns around $51,000-$104,000, while business programs show weaker financial outcomes.