Sonoran Desert Institute is a private for-profit institution offering associate degrees based in Tempe, Arizona. It enrolls 5,435 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
58/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes45
Value—
Affordability33
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Sonoran Desert Institute generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Sonoran Desert Institute isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $20,678 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private for-profit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,678
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
33%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
28%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$12,200
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,984
Books & Supplies
$0
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$864
Total Cost of Attendance
$25,566
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$20,144
$30,001 – $48,000
$20,584
$48,001 – $75,000
$20,960
$75,001 – $110,000
$23,603
Over $110,000
$25,204
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,22910%percentile
$2,50925%percentile
$9,500Medianpercentile
$9,50075%percentile
$17,36090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $7,508
↓ $1,992
No Pell $8,995
↓ $505
Dependent students $4,030
↓ $5,470
Independent students $8,225
↓ $1,275
Female students $7,178
↓ $2,322
Male students $7,795
↓ $1,705
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,750, less than completers ($9,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
—
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
Returning for their second year
Who Studies Here
Sonoran Desert Institute is home to 5,435 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 50% are first-generation college students, 42% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
5,435
Part-Time
42%
First-Generation
50%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 71.3%3,874
Hispanic 13.8%751
Other 6.9%374
Black 5.7%312
Asian 0.9%48
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Sonoran Desert Institute. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityTempe, Arizona
Housing
Commuter campusOnline-only, no physical campus
Adult Learners
87%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Other Academic Yearscheduling structure
Designation
Online-only institution
What You Can Study
Sonoran Desert Institute offers
a focused set of programs:
2 distinct programs across
1 major.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Sonoran Desert Institute is 31:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
31:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$41,456
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
11 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
11
100%
$41,456
Pros & Cons of Sonoran Desert Institute
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Sonoran Desert Institute tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Open admissions
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Modest first-year retention
For-profit institution, verify accreditation and outcomes carefully
Best for:
Based on the data, Sonoran Desert Institute is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sonoran Desert Institute
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Sonoran Desert Institute.
Is Sonoran Desert Institute hard to get into?
Sonoran Desert Institute has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Sonoran Desert Institute?
Sonoran Desert Institute has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Sonoran Desert Institute cost?
The average net price after aid at Sonoran Desert Institute is $20,678 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Sonoran Desert Institute known for?
Sonoran Desert Institute is best known for its programs in Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Sonoran Desert Institute accredited?
Yes. Sonoran Desert Institute is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission.
How many students attend Sonoran Desert Institute?
Sonoran Desert Institute enrolls 5,435 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
Is Sonoran Desert Institute a public or private college?
Sonoran Desert Institute is a Private For-Profit institution.
Where is Sonoran Desert Institute located?
Sonoran Desert Institute is located in Tempe, Arizona.
What programs does Sonoran Desert Institute offer?
Sonoran Desert Institute offers 2 distinct programs. The most popular include Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Sonoran Desert Institute?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Sonoran Desert Institute is 31:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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