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South College

Private for-profit Knoxville, TN · Urban · Southeast · 87% data
C+ Diversity C Affordability C- Earnings
Graduation Rate
40% D+
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$36,642 C-
Below average for college graduates
Net Price
$17,858 C
Close to the national average
Enrollment
8,745
Earnings -10% vs avg
Graduation -30% vs avg
Net Price 4% vs avg

Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 10.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $10.0 over 20 years.

10.0× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $10.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $643,630.

What The Data Says

  1. A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduation of 40% — 30% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $10.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About South College

South College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private for-profit Doctoral / Professional University
Carnegie Class
Doctoral/Professional
Enrollment
8,745
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, Psychology

Why students choose South College

Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C-
Top 60% overall
C-
Earnings
$36,642 median
C-
Value
2.1× net price
C
Affordability
$17,858/yr net
D+
Graduation
40% graduate
C+
Diversity
0.64 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of 8,745 students, South College in Knoxville, TN, caters to those looking to enter practical fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies. This school fits individuals who are eager to gain hands-on experience and start their careers quickly. The focus on these specific areas means that students can expect to dive straight into relevant coursework that prepares them for the workforce.

After graduation, students can anticipate earning around $36,642 after ten years. This figure gives a sense of the potential return on investment for those who choose to study here. It's especially relevant given that nearly half of the students receive Pell Grants, indicating that financial aid is available and can ease the burden of college costs. While the graduation rate is 40%, students who stick with their programs can find pathways to meaningful employment.

When it comes to the financial side, the net price after aid at South College is approximately $17,858, with a median debt of $18,668. This means that most graduates are leaving with a manageable debt load, especially in relation to their earning potential. Students who thrive here are often those who are pragmatic and focused on career readiness, making the most of the resources and programs designed to help them launch their professional lives.

Can I Get In?

How selective South College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into South College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

South College, located in Knoxville, Tennessee, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.

Retention Rate
52%
Full-Time Faculty
34%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$8,750
Student–Faculty Ratio
16:1
Diversity Index
0.64
First-Gen Students
47%

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend South College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at South College is $18,535, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $17,858. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,820 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,668 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$18,535
Out-of-State
$18,535
Avg Net Price
$17,858
Median Debt
$18,668
Pell Grant Rate
49%
Federal Loan Rate
62%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$16,820
Family Income $30K–$48K
$17,983
Family Income $48K–$75K
$18,964
Family Income $110K+
$23,053

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at South College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is South College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of South College report median earnings of $36,642, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$37,570
8 Years
$38,269
10 Years
$36,642
Debt-to-Earnings
0.51x
Earning > $25K
48%

Earnings Trajectory

$37,570 6yr $38,269 8yr $36,642 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (6)
14%
100% (6)
14%
100% (6)
14%
100% (6)
14%

How South Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation40%Earnings 10yr$37KNet Price$18KRetention52%Median Debt$19KPell Grant Rate49%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$17K$0-30K$18K$30-48K$19K$48-75K$23K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is South College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, South College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,858/year ($71,432 total). Graduates earn $36,642 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $715,062 in total earnings — a net gain of $643,630 (10.0× your investment). The median debt is $18,668, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 40% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$71,432
Projected 20yr Earnings
$715,062
Net Return
$643,630
ROI Multiple
10.0×
Cost Per Year
$17,858
Median Debt
$18,668
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
40%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Top Programs

The fields South College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into South College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

South College, located in Knoxville, Tennessee, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend South College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at South College is $18,535, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $17,858. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,820 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,668 in federal student loans.

Is South College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of South College report median earnings of $36,642, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to South College.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys