Southwestern Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 53% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $34,145 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $5,207 A
- 70% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,249
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 35.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $35.6 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $35.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $721,520.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $35.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Southwestern Community College
Southwestern 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
- 1,249
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Humanities, Business & Marketing, Culinary & Personal Services
Why students choose Southwestern 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 $5,207 a year after grants and scholarships — 70% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $34,145 ten years after enrolling — 16% below the typical college, against $10,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 0.67 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
At Southwestern Community College, you'll find a welcoming community of around 1,249 students who are focused on practical skills and career readiness. This college fits well for those looking to enter fields like health professions, business and marketing, or education. It's a place where hands-on learning is emphasized, so if you're drawn to culinary arts or personal services, you'll find ample opportunities to dive into those areas.
Looking beyond graduation, students here can expect to earn about $34,145 within ten years of completing their degree. This figure highlights the potential for upward mobility, especially for those who work diligently in their chosen fields. The affordability of education also plays a role; with a net price of just $5,207 after aid, it allows many graduates to step into the workforce with less financial burden.
In terms of debt, the median amount stands at $10,500, which is quite manageable for many graduates. This balance makes Southwestern an attractive option for those who are cost-conscious but eager to succeed. Students who thrive here often have a clear goal in mind and a strong desire to build a better future for themselves.
Rankings
- #17 Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina
- #32 Best Online Computer Science Programs in North Carolina
- #32 Best Online Nursing Programs in North Carolina
- #33 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in North Carolina
- #35 Best Online Education Programs in North Carolina
- #36 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in North Carolina
- #37 Best Online Business Programs in North Carolina
- #40 Best Computer Science Colleges in North Carolina
Can I Get In?
How selective Southwestern 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 Southwestern Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Sylva, North Carolina, Southwestern Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.
- Retention Rate
- 75%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 19%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,459
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 10:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.44
- 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 Southwestern Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Southwestern Community College is $13,184, 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 $5,207. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,982 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,112
- Out-of-State
- $13,184
- Avg Net Price
- $5,207
- Median Debt
- $10,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 36%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 5%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $4,982
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $4,423
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,494
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 Southwestern 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 Southwestern Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Southwestern Community College report median earnings of $34,145, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $31,660
- 8 Years
- $32,805
- 10 Years
- $34,145
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.31x
- Earning > $25K
- 40%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (36)
- 23%
- 100% (36)
- 23%
- 100% (36)
- 23%
- 100% (36)
- 23%
How Southwestern Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Southwestern Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Southwestern Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $5,207/year ($20,828 total). Graduates earn $34,145 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $742,348 in total earnings — a net gain of $721,520 (35.6× your investment). The median debt is $10,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 53% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $20,828
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $742,348
- Net Return
- $721,520
- ROI Multiple
- 35.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $5,207
- Median Debt
- $10,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 53%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $5,304,283
- Federal Grants
- $117,229
- Investment Income
- $13,797
Top Programs
The fields Southwestern 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.
- Health Professions 34% $65,236 early-career
- Humanities 17%
- Business & Marketing 10% $28,558 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 7% $18,039 early-career
- Education 6%
- Precision Production 6%
- Criminal Justice 6%
- Computer Science & IT 5% $36,562 early-career
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 Southwestern 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
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Southwestern Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Sylva, North Carolina, Southwestern Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Southwestern Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Southwestern Community College is $13,184, 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 $5,207. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,982 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,500 in federal student loans.
Is Southwestern Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Southwestern Community College report median earnings of $34,145, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Southwestern 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 Southwestern Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.67, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.07), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Southwestern Community College.
- Western Piedmont Community CollegeMorganton, NC · Close peer43% grad $34,195 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · same state
- Patrick & Henry Community CollegeMartinsville, VA · Close peer43% grad $33,323 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- East Central Community CollegeDecatur, MS · Close peer38% grad $32,421 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- John A Logan CollegeCarterville, IL · Close peer43% grad $34,096 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Vance-Granville Community CollegeHenderson, NC · Close peer50% grad $34,304 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Chattahoochee Valley Community CollegePhenix City, AL · Close peer36% grad $36,438 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Southwestern 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 Southwestern Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.67, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.07), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note