Southwest Texas College
- Graduation Rate
- 32% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $35,563 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $7,372 A-
- 57% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 3,306
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 29.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $29.3 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $29.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $833,174.
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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Social mobility rate of 5.73% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $29.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Southwest Texas College Matters
Southwest Texas College is a public community college in Uvalde, 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
- 3,306
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Precision Production
Why students choose Southwest 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 $7,372 a year after grants and scholarships — 57% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $35,563 ten years after enrolling — 13% below the typical college, against $6,200 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 5.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 1% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.89 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of around 3,300 students, Southwest Texas College is a solid option for those looking for a community-oriented experience in Uvalde, Texas. Students here often gravitate toward programs in Humanities, Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Technology, Precision Production, and Criminal Justice. This variety means there’s something for different interests and career paths, making it a good fit for those who want to dive into practical skills and academic studies alike.
Looking at life after graduation, the average earnings for alumni ten years down the line sit at $35,563. While that number gives us a snapshot of potential financial outcomes, it’s important to consider the affordability of attending. With a net price of just $7,372 after aid and a median debt of $6,200, many graduates can find themselves in a position where they aren’t weighed down by significant debt. This financial landscape can be encouraging for students who are concerned about their post-college financial health.
In practical terms, students who thrive here are typically those who appreciate a close-knit environment and hands-on learning opportunities. The college’s affordability makes it accessible, especially for first-generation college students or those from lower-income backgrounds, with 33% receiving Pell Grants. This supportive atmosphere, combined with manageable costs, helps students focus on their studies and prepare for careers in their fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Southwest 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 Southwest Texas College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Southwest Texas College, located in Uvalde, Texas, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 32%.
- Retention Rate
- 58%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 70%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,739
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.17
- First-Gen Students
- 57%
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 Texas College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Southwest Texas College is $6,294, 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 $7,372. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,668 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $6,200 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $2,646
- Out-of-State
- $6,294
- Avg Net Price
- $7,372
- Median Debt
- $6,200
- Pell Grant Rate
- 33%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 2%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,668
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $7,044
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $8,976
- Family Income $110K+
- $13,554
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Southwest Texas College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Southwest Texas College report median earnings of $35,563, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $30,305
- 8 Years
- $33,112
- 10 Years
- $35,563
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.17x
- Earning > $25K
- 45%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (96)
- 18%
- 100% (96)
- 18%
- 100% (96)
- 18%
- 100% (96)
- 18%
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 Texas College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Southwest Texas College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $7,372/year ($29,488 total). Graduates earn $35,563 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $862,662 in total earnings — a net gain of $833,174 (29.3× your investment). The median debt is $6,200, 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)
- $29,488
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $862,662
- Net Return
- $833,174
- ROI Multiple
- 29.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $7,372
- Median Debt
- $6,200
- 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 Southwest Texas College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Southwest 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 5.73%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 43% 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 13.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $28,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 5.73%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 13.3%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 43.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $28,100
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $2,225,540
- Federal Grants
- $3,779,670
- Investment Income
- $104,272
Top Programs
The fields Southwest 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.
- Humanities 43%
- Health Professions 17%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 10%
- Precision Production 10%
- Criminal Justice 6%
- Construction Trades 3%
- Business & Marketing 2%
- Culinary & Personal Services 2%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Southwest Texas 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
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CAerospace Engineer$130,720 · 6% growthResilient 72
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Southwest Texas College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Southwest Texas College, located in Uvalde, Texas, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 32%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Southwest Texas College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Southwest Texas College is $6,294, 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 $7,372. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,668 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $6,200 in federal student loans.
Is Southwest Texas College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Southwest Texas College report median earnings of $35,563, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Southwest Texas College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Southwest 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 5.73%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 43% 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 13.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $28,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Southwest Texas College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Southwest Texas College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.89, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Southwest Texas College.
- City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington CollegeChicago, IL · Close peer27% grad $36,531 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- State Fair Community CollegeSedalia, MO · Close peer42% grad $35,562 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Virginia Peninsula Community CollegeHampton, VA · Close peer34% grad $37,996 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Compton CollegeCompton, CA · Close peer29% grad $34,181 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Los Angeles Southwest CollegeLos Angeles, CA · Close peer34% grad $32,172 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Porterville CollegePorterville, CA · Close peer32% grad $36,328 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Southwest Texas College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Southwest Texas College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.89, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note