Southern Union State Community College
#8 Most Affordable Colleges in Alabama- Graduation Rate
- 32% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $36,597 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $6,142 A-
- 64% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 4,173
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 33.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $33.7 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Most Affordable Colleges in Alabama.
Every $1 spent returns $33.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $803,827.
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 32% — 44% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $33.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Southern Union State Community College
Southern Union State 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
- 4,173
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Precision Production
Why students choose Southern Union 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 $6,142 a year after grants and scholarships — 64% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $36,597 ten years after enrolling — 10% below the typical college, against $11,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 44% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.69 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Southern Union State Community College, with an enrollment of 4,173, is a solid choice for students seeking a practical, hands-on education. You’ll find strong programs in areas like Health Professions, Computer Science & IT, and Mechanic & Repair Tech. These fields not only match current job market needs but also allow students to gain skills that lead to immediate employment.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $36,597 within ten years, which is a reasonable starting point for many. It’s worth noting that a significant portion of the student body, about 34%, relies on Pell Grants, indicating that the college is accessible to those who may need financial help. While the graduation rate sits at 32%, it's important to remember that many students are balancing work and family commitments alongside their studies, which can impact their completion timeline.
When it comes to costs, the net price after aid is around $6,142, making it relatively affordable compared to many other options. The median debt for graduates is approximately $11,000, which is manageable for many. Students who tend to thrive here are often those looking for a practical education that leads directly to employment, especially in technical fields or health professions. This community college can be a launching pad for a stable career without the heavy financial burden.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Southern Union 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 Union State Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Wadley, Alabama, Southern Union State Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 32%.
- Retention Rate
- 67%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 39%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,235
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 19:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.50
- First-Gen Students
- 44%
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 Union State Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Southern Union State Community College is $8,910, 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 $6,142. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,543 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,040
- Out-of-State
- $8,910
- Avg Net Price
- $6,142
- Median Debt
- $11,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 34%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 22%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $3,543
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $5,160
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $7,173
- Family Income $110K+
- $10,953
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 Union 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 Union State Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Southern Union State Community College report median earnings of $36,597, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $32,844
- 8 Years
- $34,846
- 10 Years
- $36,597
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.3x
- Earning > $25K
- 48%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (126)
- 12%
- 100% (126)
- 12%
- 100% (126)
- 12%
- 100% (126)
- 12%
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 Union 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 Union State Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,142/year ($24,568 total). Graduates earn $36,597 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $828,395 in total earnings — a net gain of $803,827 (33.7× your investment). The median debt is $11,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 32% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $24,568
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $828,395
- Net Return
- $803,827
- ROI Multiple
- 33.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $6,142
- Median Debt
- $11,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 32%
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 Union State Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Southern Union State Community 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 1.59%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 16.4% 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 9.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.59%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 9.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 16.4%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $90,758
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Top Programs
The fields Southern Union 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 43%
- Health Professions 23% $57,927 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 18% $57,082 early-career
- Precision Production 7% $50,714 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 3% $18,479 early-career
- Business & Marketing 2% $26,639 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 1%
- 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 Union 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 Union State Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Wadley, Alabama, Southern Union State Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 32%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Southern Union State Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Southern Union State Community College is $8,910, 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 $6,142. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,543 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.
Is Southern Union State Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Southern Union State Community College report median earnings of $36,597, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Southern Union State Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Southern Union State Community 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 1.59%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 16.4% 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 9.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Southern Union 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 below average at Southern Union State Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.69, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.08). Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Southern Union State Community College.
- Georgia Northwestern Technical CollegeRome, GA · Close peer38% grad $35,759 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- San Juan CollegeFarmington, NM · Close peer34% grad $36,513 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Mohave Community CollegeKingman, AZ · Close peer35% grad $35,522 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Southern Crescent Technical CollegeGriffin, GA · Close peer55% grad $36,104 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- York Technical CollegeRock Hill, SC · Close peer31% grad $37,257 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Elizabethtown Community and Technical CollegeElizabethtown, KY · Close peer54% grad $36,143 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Southern Union 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 below average at Southern Union State Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.69, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.08). Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note