South Texas College
Quick Degree Finder
Find an Accredited Program
Accepting applicants in this field now.
Results are sponsored program matches from BestColleges, our advertising partner. Privacy Terms
Why South Texas College Matters
South Texas College is a public community college in McAllen, TX and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
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
- 15,856
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Precision Production
Why students choose South Texas 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 $1,751 a year after grants and scholarships — 90% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $36,788 ten years after enrolling — 10% below the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 6.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 1% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.67 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With over 15,800 students, South Texas College serves a diverse community in McAllen, TX, catering to those looking for practical pathways into careers. The school shines particularly in programs like Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Precision Production, and Computer Science & IT. These areas of study are designed for students seeking hands-on experience and relevant skills that can lead directly to employment.
When it comes to life after graduation, students can expect to earn around $36,788 within ten years of completing their studies. This figure suggests that many graduates find their footing in the job market, especially in fields like health and business, where demand is often steady. The affordability factor is noteworthy too, with a net price of just $1,751 after aid, making it a feasible option for many.
In terms of financial considerations, South Texas College keeps costs manageable, especially for students relying on aid—39% of whom receive Pell Grants. While specific debt numbers aren’t available, the low cost of attendance suggests that students can graduate with less financial burden. This environment tends to attract individuals who are motivated and ready to take advantage of the opportunities available, especially in practical fields where they can see a direct return on their investment.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective South Texas 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 Texas College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in McAllen, Texas, South Texas College enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 27%.
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 Texas College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending South Texas College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $7,620 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $1,751 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,395 after need-based grants.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is South Texas College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of South Texas College report median earnings of $36,788; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How South Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is South Texas College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, South Texas College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $1,751/year ($7,004 total). Graduates earn $36,788 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,045,440 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,038,436 (149.3× your investment).. With a 27% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does South Texas College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
South Texas College is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 6.91%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here: roughly 52.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $23,900, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields South Texas College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for South Texas College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into South Texas College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
As a public institution in McAllen, Texas, South Texas College enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 27%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend South Texas College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending South Texas College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $7,620 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $1,751 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,395 after need-based grants.
Is South Texas College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of South Texas College report median earnings of $36,788; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Does South Texas College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
South Texas College is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 6.91%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here: roughly 52.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $23,900, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is South Texas 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 Texas College, with an economic connectedness score of 0.67 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to South Texas College.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is South Texas 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 Texas College, with an economic connectedness score of 0.67 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note