South Piedmont Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 37% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $37,308 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $6,675 A-
- 61% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,833
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 34.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $34.8 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $34.8 over 20 years. Net gain: $902,228.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 37% — 36% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $34.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About South Piedmont Community College
South Piedmont 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 Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,833
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice
Why students choose South Piedmont 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 $6,675 a year after grants and scholarships — 61% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $37,308 ten years after enrolling — 9% below the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 0.72 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 1,833 students, South Piedmont Community College suits those looking for a supportive environment to jumpstart their higher education journey. The college excels in areas like Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, and Criminal Justice. This variety allows students to explore different fields while gaining practical skills that are directly applicable in the workforce.
Looking at life after graduation, students can expect to earn around $37,308 within ten years of completing their studies. While the graduation rate sits at 37%, it’s essential to remember that many students are balancing work and family commitments alongside their education. The affordability of South Piedmont is a significant advantage, with a net price of just $6,675, making it an accessible choice for many.
When it comes to the financial bottom line, the costs after financial aid are manageable, and the college is particularly reachable for those from lower-income backgrounds, with 17% of students receiving Pell Grants. Those who thrive here tend to be individuals who appreciate a community-oriented approach to learning and are committed to balancing their studies with other life responsibilities.
Rankings
- #43 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in North Carolina
- #44 Best Online Computer Science Programs in North Carolina
- #45 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in North Carolina
- #48 Best Computer Science Colleges in North Carolina
- #48 Best Education Colleges in North Carolina
- #48 Best Data Science Colleges in North Carolina
- #48 Best Online Nursing Programs in North Carolina
- #49 Best Online Education Programs in North Carolina
Can I Get In?
How selective South Piedmont 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 Piedmont Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Polkton, North Carolina, South Piedmont Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
- Retention Rate
- 57%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 33%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,334
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.69
- 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 Piedmont Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at South Piedmont Community College is $6,630, 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 $6,675. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,948 after need-based grants.
- In-State Tuition
- $2,022
- Out-of-State
- $6,630
- Avg Net Price
- $6,675
- Pell Grant Rate
- 17%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 0%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $4,948
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $5,576
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $7,866
- Family Income $110K+
- $16,111
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 Piedmont 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 Piedmont Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of South Piedmont Community College report median earnings of $37,308, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $31,212
- 8 Years
- $35,072
- 10 Years
- $37,308
- Earning > $25K
- 37%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (20)
- 20%
- 100% (20)
- 20%
- 100% (20)
- 20%
- 100% (20)
- 20%
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 Piedmont Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, South Piedmont Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,675/year ($26,700 total). Graduates earn $37,308 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $928,928 in total earnings — a net gain of $902,228 (34.8× your investment).. With a 37% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $26,700
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $928,928
- Net Return
- $902,228
- ROI Multiple
- 34.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $6,675
- Graduation Rate
- 37%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $2,743,120
- Investment Income
- $15,550
Top Programs
The fields South Piedmont 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.
- Humanities 38%
- Health Professions 13% $63,400 early-career
- Business & Marketing 13% $56,154 early-career
- Criminal Justice 9% $43,782 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 8%
- Education 5% $20,758 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 2%
- Legal Studies 2%
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 Piedmont 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
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into South Piedmont Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Polkton, North Carolina, South Piedmont Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend South Piedmont Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at South Piedmont Community College is $6,630, 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 $6,675. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,948 after need-based grants.
Is South Piedmont Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of South Piedmont Community College report median earnings of $37,308, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is South Piedmont 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 Piedmont Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.72, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.12). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to South Piedmont Community College.
- Butler County Community CollegeButler, PA · Close peer34% grad $38,891 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Cleveland State Community CollegeCleveland, TN · Close peer33% grad $36,671 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Northern Oklahoma CollegeTonkawa, OK · Close peer44% grad $37,566 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Howard CollegeBig Spring, TX · Close peer35% grad $38,382 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Southwestern Michigan CollegeDowagiac, MI · Close peer32% grad $37,303 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Allegany College of MarylandCumberland, MD · Close peer42% grad $38,476 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is South Piedmont 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 Piedmont Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.72, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.12). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note