South College is a private for-profit institution offering graduate degrees based in Knoxville, Tennessee. It enrolls 8,745 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.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarOther Academic Year
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). 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
59/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes49
Value28
Affordability49
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for South College.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending South College 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 $17,858 per year. That's below the typical net price for private for-profit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$17,858
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
49%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
62%
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
$18,535
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,920
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,800
Total Cost of Attendance
$30,954
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
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
$16,820
$30,001 – $48,000
$17,983
$48,001 – $75,000
$18,964
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,710
Over $110,000
$23,053
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.
$2,94010%percentile
$4,00025%percentile
$18,668Medianpercentile
$21,00075%percentile
$38,10990%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 $9,500
↓ $9,168
No Pell $9,500
↓ $9,168
Dependent students $7,166
↓ $11,502
Independent students $9,500
↓ $9,168
Female students $9,500
↓ $9,168
Male students $8,100
↓ $10,568
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,334, less than completers ($18,668), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
29% of full-time students who enrolled at South College graduate within six years, and 57% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
29%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
57%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered South College earn a median of $36,642 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$36,642
Earning > $25K
61%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$28,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$36,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$25,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$35,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$40,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,700, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
21.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 69% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
South College is home to 8,745 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 47% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
8,745
Part-Time
20%
First-Generation
47%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 43.5%3,801
White 41.2%3,606
Other 7.3%640
International 3.3%290
Hispanic 1.7%151
Asian 1.5%134
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at South College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityKnoxville, Tennessee
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
61%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Other Academic Yearscheduling structure
What You Can Study
South College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
61 distinct programs across
9 majors.
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 South College is 23:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
23:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$77,166
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
384 instructional faculty across 5 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
Full Professors
19
5%
$113,554
Associate Professors
56
15%
$95,525
Assistant Professors
113
29%
$79,346
Instructors
193
50%
$66,563
No Rank
3
1%
$104,015
Pros & Cons of South College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how South College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
For-profit institution, verify accreditation and outcomes carefully
Frequently Asked Questions about South College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about South College.
How much does South College cost?
The average net price after aid at South College is $17,858 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is South College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $36,642 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,858 per year. That's roughly 2.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is South College known for?
South College is best known for its programs in Health/Medical Preparatory, Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do South College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering South College are $36,642, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is South College accredited?
Yes. South College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend South College?
South College enrolls 8,745 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at South College?
South College graduates 29% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is South College a public or private college?
South College is a Private For-Profit institution.
Where is South College located?
South College is located in Knoxville, Tennessee.
What programs does South College offer?
South College offers 61 distinct programs. The most popular include Health/Medical Preparatory, Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at South College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at South College is 23:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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