South Plains College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Levelland, Texas. It enrolls 6,005 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 CalendarSemester
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 (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
61/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes12
Value76
Affordability63
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, South Plains College 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 South Plains 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 $6,791 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$6,791
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
38%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
15%
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 (in-state)
$2,731
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$5,155
Room & Board (on-campus)
$5,481
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,232
Books & Supplies
$1,255
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,756
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$8,191
Total Cost of Attendance
$13,784
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
$5,394
$30,001 – $48,000
$5,369
$48,001 – $75,000
$8,721
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,059
Over $110,000
$13,314
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.
$1,86210%percentile
$3,00025%percentile
$10,500Medianpercentile
$12,00075%percentile
$22,13890%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 $7,611
↓ $2,889
No Pell $5,500
↓ $5,000
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $5,000
Independent students $9,500
↓ $1,000
Female students $7,510
↓ $2,990
Male students $5,794
↓ $4,706
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,334, less than completers ($10,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
16% of full-time students who enrolled at South Plains College graduate within six years, and 50% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
16%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
50%
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 Plains College earn a median of $41,276 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$41,276
Earning > $25K
66%
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
$32,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$36,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$44,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$49,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $19,300, about 38% 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 ↑
20.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 68% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
South Plains College is home to 6,005 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 54% are first-generation college students, 40% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
6,005
Part-Time
40%
First-Generation
54%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 53.9%3,238
White 33.9%2,035
Black 8.1%488
Asian 2.1%123
Other 1.8%105
International 0.2%14
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at South Plains College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantLevelland, Texas
Housing
Limited on-campus housing779 beds
Adult Learners
22%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
South Plains College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
55 distinct programs across
27 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 Plains College is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,112
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$30M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$59,026
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
258 instructional faculty across 4 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
48
19%
$67,956
Associate Professors
44
17%
$59,572
Assistant Professors
72
28%
$57,725
Instructors
94
36%
$55,207
Pros & Cons of South Plains College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how South Plains College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Reasonable class sizes
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, South Plains College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about South Plains College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about South Plains College.
Is South Plains College hard to get into?
South Plains College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at South Plains College?
South Plains College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does South Plains College cost?
The average net price after aid at South Plains College is $6,791 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is South Plains College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $41,276 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $6,791 per year. That's roughly 6.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is South Plains College known for?
South Plains College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Cosmetology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do South Plains College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering South Plains College are $41,276, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is South Plains College accredited?
Yes. South Plains College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend South Plains College?
South Plains College enrolls 6,005 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at South Plains College?
South Plains College graduates 16% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is South Plains College a public or private college?
South Plains College is a Public institution.
Where is South Plains College located?
South Plains College is located in Levelland, Texas.
What programs does South Plains College offer?
South Plains College offers 55 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Cosmetology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at South Plains College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at South Plains College is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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