South Mountain Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 16% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $39,825 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $12,780 B-
- 25% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 3,645
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 17.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $17.7 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $17.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $853,836.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 16% — 71% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $17.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About South Mountain Community College
South Mountain Community 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
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 3,645
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts, Humanities, Business & Marketing, Construction Trades
Why students choose South Mountain Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,780 a year after grants and scholarships — 25% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $39,825 ten years after enrolling — 2% below the typical college, against $8,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 0.74 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Only 16% of students graduate from South Mountain Community College, indicating that persistence may be a challenge for many. With an enrollment of 3,645, this college serves a diverse student body in Phoenix, Arizona. Students pursuing programs in Visual & Performing Arts, Business, Computer Science, and Construction Trades have access to various pathways, but the low graduation rate raises questions about support and resources.
Data from Opportunity Insights highlights the economic mobility outcomes for students at South Mountain Community College. While specific mobility data is not available, the average earnings for graduates after ten years is $39,825. A significant portion of students, 30%, receive Pell Grants, which suggests that financial aid plays a vital role in their education. However, navigating the journey from enrollment to employment may require additional effort given the low graduation figures.
The cost of attendance at South Mountain Community College is relatively low, with a net price of $12,780 and a median debt of $8,000. Graduates can expect to earn a decent income, but the path to success may be less certain for those who struggle to complete their degrees. This college may be a good fit for students who are determined and resourceful, especially those who thrive in a hands-on learning environment and are committed to overcoming obstacles.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective South Mountain Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into South Mountain Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Phoenix, Arizona, South Mountain Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 16%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,731
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.63
- First-Gen Students
- 59%
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 Mountain Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at South Mountain Community College is $8,958, 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 $12,780. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,902 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $2,358
- Out-of-State
- $8,958
- Avg Net Price
- $12,780
- Median Debt
- $8,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 30%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 8%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $11,902
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,932
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $13,987
- Family Income $110K+
- $17,132
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 Mountain Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is South Mountain Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of South Mountain Community College report median earnings of $39,825, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $35,633
- 8 Years
- $37,696
- 10 Years
- $39,825
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.2x
- Earning > $25K
- 48%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (37)
- 10%
- 100% (37)
- 10%
- 100% (37)
- 10%
- 100% (37)
- 10%
How South Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is South Mountain Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, South Mountain Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,780/year ($51,120 total). Graduates earn $39,825 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $904,956 in total earnings — a net gain of $853,836 (17.7× your investment). The median debt is $8,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 16% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $51,120
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $904,956
- Net Return
- $853,836
- ROI Multiple
- 17.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $12,780
- Median Debt
- $8,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 16%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields South Mountain Community 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.
- Visual & Performing Arts 26% $26,716 early-career
- Humanities 16%
- Business & Marketing 12%
- Construction Trades 8%
- Computer Science & IT 5%
- Education 1%
- Biology & Biomedical 1%
- Psychology 1%
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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for South Mountain Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into South Mountain Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Phoenix, Arizona, South Mountain Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 16%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend South Mountain Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at South Mountain Community College is $8,958, 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 $12,780. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,902 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,000 in federal student loans.
Is South Mountain Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of South Mountain Community College report median earnings of $39,825, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is South Mountain Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at South Mountain Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.74, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to South Mountain Community College.
- Clark State CollegeSpringfield, OH · Close peer23% grad $39,584 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Navarro CollegeCorsicana, TX · Close peer23% grad $38,716 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Pueblo Community CollegePueblo, CO · Close peer34% grad $37,434 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Aims Community CollegeGreeley, CO · Close peer37% grad $41,887 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Vincennes UniversityVincennes, IN · Close peer37% grad $41,110 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- College of Coastal GeorgiaBrunswick, GA · Close peer26% grad $39,318 earn 98% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is South Mountain Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at South Mountain Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.74, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note