Southern State Community College
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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, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Mechanic & Repair Tech
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
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 school reports a graduation rate of roughly 31%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending Southern State Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $10,818 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 $9,674 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,099 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $11,457.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
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; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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.
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 genuine 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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Southern State Community 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 Southern State Community College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
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 school reports a graduation rate of roughly 31%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Southern State Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Southern State Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $10,818 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 $9,674 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,099 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $11,457.
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; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
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 genuine 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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.10 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely 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.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.10 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note