At $24,026/yr net price, Southern Technical College graduates earn $36,155/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $2,155/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $24,026 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $96,104 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $36,155/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$2,155/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 44.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 49.7% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $11,250 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $22,790/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $25,104/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $27,202/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,849/yr |
| $110,001+ | $27,949/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $50,856 | $24,666 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $41,565 | |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $39,369 | |
| Design and Applied Arts. | Bachelor | $36,852 | |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Bachelor | $33,281 | |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Associate | $33,206 | $22,500 |
| Public Administration. | Bachelor | $32,711 | |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Associate | $30,771 | |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Associate | $28,598 | |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Certificate | $28,598 | $14,333 |
The Risk Factor
49.7% of students at Southern Technical College graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Southern Technical College hands you a weak financial return unless you pick the right program. At $24,026 a year, the net price rivals four-year private colleges, but you leave with an associate degree and median earnings of $36,155 a decade later. That gap is the core problem here: you pay university-level prices for two-year outcomes.
Nursing is the one program that pays off. At $50,856, its graduates earn roughly $22,000 more than the school-wide median, and the higher debt load ($24,666) is justified by those earnings. Everything else is a much harder sell. Allied Health, Health and Medical Administrative Services, and Criminal Justice all land in the $28,000-$33,000 range. On those salaries, the annual net price consumes a punishing share of your income, and you may struggle to see the degree pay for itself.
The specific risk here is the price-to-outcome mismatch combined with a 49.7% graduation rate. Half of you won't finish, and if you drop out you still owe the debt without the credential that makes it worth carrying. For a for-profit school charging this much, that coin-flip completion rate is the biggest financial danger.
The net price barely moves with income. If your family earns under $30k, you pay $22,790. if it earns over $110k, you pay $27,949. That flat structure means lower-income families carry a far heavier burden relative to what they can afford, and the sticker shock is real at every tier.
This school is a reasonable fit only if you enroll in nursing and are confident you'll finish. If you're eyeing any other program, price out your local community college first, where a similar associate degree in health administration or criminal justice will cost a fraction of this and leave you with far less debt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Southern Technical College worth the cost?
Southern Technical College's graduates earn $36,155 after 10 years, which is low compared to the $24,026 annual cost. Only nursing programs show strong returns, while most other fields struggle to justify the investment.
What are the best paying programs at Southern Technical College?
Registered nursing graduates from Southern Technical College earn around $50,856, making it the only program that clearly pays off. Business administration ($41,565) and computer science ($39,369) show moderate returns, but design and health administration programs lag significantly.
How much debt do Southern Technical College students graduate with?
Southern Technical College students graduate with a median debt of $11,250, which is relatively manageable. However, with low graduate earnings in most programs, even this modest debt can be difficult to repay.
What is the graduation rate at Southern Technical College?
Southern Technical College has a 49.7% graduation rate, meaning about half of students don't complete their programs. This creates additional financial risk since students may accumulate debt without earning a degree.