Southwest Tennessee Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 19% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $34,071 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $4,754 A
- 72% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 5,047
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 41.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $41.0 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $41.0 over 20 years. Net gain: $760,711.
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 19% — 66% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $41.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Southwest Tennessee Community College
Southwest Tennessee 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
- 5,047
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Southwest Tennessee 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 $4,754 a year after grants and scholarships — 72% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $34,071 ten years after enrolling — 16% below the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 69% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.53 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 5,000 students, Southwest Tennessee Community College serves individuals looking to dive into practical fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Criminal Justice. It’s a place for those who want to build skills that lead directly to employment. The focus on hands-on learning in these areas often resonates with students eager to enter the workforce quickly and effectively.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $34,071 within ten years, which gives a sense of the economic landscape they are stepping into. While the graduation rate sits at 19%, many are finding ways to leverage their education in the local job market. Affordability is a significant advantage, especially with a net price of only $4,754, making it easier for students to manage their financial commitments as they transition into their careers.
Looking at the practical aspects, the financial burden remains relatively light for many students here. With a significant 41% of students receiving Pell Grants, this support can help ease costs even further. Those who thrive at Southwest Tennessee Community College are often those who are determined to focus on their studies and take advantage of the resources available, paving the way for a successful start in their chosen fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Southwest Tennessee 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 Southwest Tennessee Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Southwest Tennessee Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 19%.
- Retention Rate
- 46%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 46%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,874
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.55
- First-Gen Students
- 46%
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 Southwest Tennessee Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Southwest Tennessee Community College is $17,750, 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 $4,754. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,286 after need-based grants.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,778
- Out-of-State
- $17,750
- Avg Net Price
- $4,754
- Pell Grant Rate
- 41%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 0%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $4,286
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $4,304
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,567
- Family Income $110K+
- $6,815
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 Southwest Tennessee 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 Southwest Tennessee Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Southwest Tennessee Community College report median earnings of $34,071, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $30,317
- 8 Years
- $32,323
- 10 Years
- $34,071
- Earning > $25K
- 39%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (95)
- 5%
- 100% (95)
- 5%
- 100% (95)
- 5%
- 100% (95)
- 5%
How Southwest 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 Southwest Tennessee Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Southwest Tennessee Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $4,754/year ($19,016 total). Graduates earn $34,071 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $779,727 in total earnings — a net gain of $760,711 (41.0× your investment).. With a 19% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $19,016
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $779,727
- Net Return
- $760,711
- ROI Multiple
- 41.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $4,754
- Graduation Rate
- 19%
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 Southwest Tennessee Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Southwest Tennessee 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 1.11%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 19.3% 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 5.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $53,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.11%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 5.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 19.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $72,824
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $1,766,057
- Federal Grants
- $3,550,719
- Investment Income
- $101,867
Top Programs
The fields Southwest Tennessee 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 57%
- Health Professions 25% $65,959 early-career
- Business & Marketing 6% $33,521 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3%
- Visual & Performing Arts 2%
- Legal Studies 1%
- Criminal Justice 1%
- Biology & Biomedical 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 Southwest Tennessee 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
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Southwest Tennessee Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Southwest Tennessee Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 19%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Southwest Tennessee Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Southwest Tennessee Community College is $17,750, 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 $4,754. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,286 after need-based grants.
Is Southwest Tennessee Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Southwest Tennessee Community College report median earnings of $34,071, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Southwest Tennessee Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Southwest Tennessee 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 1.11%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 19.3% 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 5.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $53,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Southwest Tennessee 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 Southwest Tennessee Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.53, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias runs higher (0.22), suggesting students tend to form ties within their own economic group. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Southwest Tennessee Community College.
- Mott Community CollegeFlint, MI · Close peer26% grad $32,538 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Chattanooga State Community CollegeChattanooga, TN · Close peer24% grad $37,598 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Delta CollegeUniversity Center, MI · Close peer21% grad $37,781 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- CUNY Hostos Community CollegeBronx, NY · Close peer17% grad $40,485 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- New Mexico State University-Dona AnaLas Cruces, NM · Close peer17% grad $39,067 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Northeast State Community CollegeBlountville, TN · Close peer33% grad $34,553 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · same state
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Southwest Tennessee 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 Southwest Tennessee Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.53, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias runs higher (0.22), suggesting students tend to form ties within their own economic group. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note