Is Southern Regional Technical College Worth It?

Southern Regional Technical College keeps your out-of-pocket cost near zero, and that changes the math on everything else. At just over a thousand dollars a year, you can walk away with a credential without carrying much debt, which matters because the typical graduate earns around $31,000 a decade out. That median is low, so the near-free tuition is what keeps this school worth considering.

Your program choice decides whether this pays off. Nursing is the clear winner here, with associate-level graduates earning close to $57,000, roughly double the school-wide median. Nothing else comes close. The heavy equipment maintenance certificate lands around $35,000, and vehicle repair sits near $29,000. The allied health tracks pay in the low thirties whether you finish the associate or the certificate, so the extra time in the associate program does not buy you much more income in that field.

The real risk is the 35.7% graduation rate. Nearly two-thirds of students do not finish, and a credential you never complete leaves you with the time cost and none of the earnings bump. Pick a program you can actually finish.

The net price tiers reward lower-income families most. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay about $366 a year. at $30,000 to $48,000, about $757. That jumps to roughly $3,785 in the $48,000-$75,000 band and $8,501 above that, so the deal is best if your family income is under $48,000.

This school fits you if you live near Thomasville, want a nursing or skilled-trade credential, and need to keep costs down. Look elsewhere if you want a bachelor's degree or a field beyond the trades and health programs listed, since the earnings outside nursing stay modest.