Southern State Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 31% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $35,463 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $9,674 B
- 44% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 761
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 19.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.9 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $19.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $733,180.
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 31% — 46% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $19.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Southern State Community College Matters
Southern State Community College is a public community college in Hillsboro, OH and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
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
- 761
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Southern State 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 $9,674 a year after grants and scholarships — 44% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $35,463 ten years after enrolling — 13% below the typical college, against $11,457 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 74% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.10 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Southern State Community College serves around 761 students, making it a tight-knit environment where individuals can thrive in programs like Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Mechanic & Repair Tech, and Computer Science & IT. This college is ideal for those looking for a supportive community and practical programs that align with their career ambitions. With a graduation rate of 31%, it’s clear that this institution is focused on helping students complete their goals, even as they navigate the challenges of college life.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $35,463 within ten years of completing their studies. While the college may not have extensive mobility data, the earnings figures suggest that graduates can find stable employment, particularly in fields like health and technology. Affordability is a crucial factor; the net price for students after financial aid is $9,674, making it accessible for many.
Looking at the financial aspects, the median student debt is $11,457, which is relatively manageable. With 22% of students receiving Pell Grants, there's support available for those who qualify. The combination of reasonable costs and a strong community helps students who are committed to their education and career development to thrive here.
Rankings
- #15 Most Affordable Colleges in Ohio
- #19 Best Online Education Programs in Ohio
- #21 Best Computer Science Colleges in Ohio
- #21 Best Data Science Colleges in Ohio
- #24 Best Business Colleges in Ohio
- #24 Best Online Business Programs in Ohio
- #24 Best Online Nursing Programs in Ohio
- #25 Best Online Computer Science Programs in Ohio
Can I Get In?
How selective Southern State 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 Southern State Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Hillsboro, Ohio, Southern State Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 31%.
- Retention Rate
- 64%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 47%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,585
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.19
- First-Gen Students
- 52%
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 Southern State Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Southern State Community College is $10,818, 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 $9,674. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,099 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,457 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,912
- Out-of-State
- $10,818
- Avg Net Price
- $9,674
- Median Debt
- $11,457
- Pell Grant Rate
- 22%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 13%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $8,099
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $7,950
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,926
- Family Income $110K+
- $10,805
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 Southern State 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 Southern State Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Southern State Community College report median earnings of $35,463, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $32,851
- 8 Years
- $33,821
- 10 Years
- $35,463
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.32x
- Earning > $25K
- 40%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (36)
- 18%
- 100% (36)
- 18%
- 100% (36)
- 18%
- 100% (36)
- 18%
How Southern 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 Southern State Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Southern State Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,674/year ($38,696 total). Graduates earn $35,463 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $771,876 in total earnings — a net gain of $733,180 (19.9× your investment). The median debt is $11,457, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 31% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $38,696
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $771,876
- Net Return
- $733,180
- ROI Multiple
- 19.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $9,674
- Median Debt
- $11,457
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 31%
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 Southern State Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Southern State Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.03%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 14.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 6.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $53,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.03%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 6.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 14.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $73,231
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $3,155,070
- Investment Income
- $-324,061
Top Programs
The fields Southern State 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%
- Business & Marketing 26% $38,415 early-career
- Health Professions 22% $59,168 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 4%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 3%
- Education 2%
- Criminal Justice 0%
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 Southern State 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 Southern State Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Hillsboro, Ohio, Southern State Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 31%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Southern State Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Southern State Community College is $10,818, 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 $9,674. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,099 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,457 in federal student loans.
Is Southern State Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Southern State Community College report median earnings of $35,463, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Southern State Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Southern State Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.03%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 14.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 6.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $53,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Southern State Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Southern State Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.10, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Southern State Community College.
- North Central Michigan CollegePetoskey, MI · Close peer27% grad $36,594 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Missouri State University-West PlainsWest Plains, MO · Close peer38% grad $36,922 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Sullivan County Community CollegeLoch Sheldrake, NY · Close peer28% grad $38,354 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of South Carolina-LancasterLancaster, SC · Close peer27% grad $39,426 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Kirtland Community CollegeGrayling, MI · Close peer30% grad $35,831 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Pierpont Community and Technical CollegeFairmont, WV · Close peer40% grad $35,132 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Southern State Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Southern State Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.10, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note