Shelton State Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It enrolls 3,148 students (a mid-sized 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.
Fair
51/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes19
Value33
Affordability48
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Shelton State Community 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 Shelton State Community 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 $14,557 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,557
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
43%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
0%
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)
$5,127
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$8,997
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,000
Books & Supplies
$4,500
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,400
Total Cost of Attendance
$20,350
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
$14,091
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,492
$48,001 – $75,000
$16,073
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,545
Over $110,000
$16,269
What this means:
Aid reaches a meaningful share of the student body: 43% of students receive Pell grants. If your family qualifies for Pell, the real cost to you could be substantially lower than the average.
Graduation Rate & Retention
14% of full-time students who enrolled at Shelton State Community College graduate within six years, and 57% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
14%
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 Shelton State Community College earn a median of $35,014 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$35,014
Earning > $25K
59%
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
$25,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$40,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,300, 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.
What this means:
Moderate return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$2.4 of median earnings 10 years out. Compare carefully against your funding plan.
Who Studies Here
Shelton State Community College is home to 3,148 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 48% are first-generation college students, 48% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
3,148
Part-Time
48%
First-Generation
48%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 50.7%1,596
Black 37.3%1,173
Hispanic 6.6%209
Other 3.9%122
International 0.8%26
Asian 0.6%20
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Shelton State Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityTuscaloosa, Alabama
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
17%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
What You Can Study
Shelton State Community College offers
a varied set of programs:
30 distinct programs across
10 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 Shelton State Community College is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,664
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$65,398
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
105 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
No Rank
105
100%
$65,398
Pros & Cons of Shelton State Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Shelton State Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
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, Shelton State Community College 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 Shelton State Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Shelton State Community College.
Is Shelton State Community College hard to get into?
Shelton State Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Shelton State Community College?
Shelton State Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Shelton State Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Shelton State Community College is $14,557 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Shelton State Community College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $35,014 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,557 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Shelton State Community College known for?
Shelton State Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Practical Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Shelton State Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Shelton State Community College are $35,014, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Shelton State Community College accredited?
Yes. Shelton State Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Shelton State Community College?
Shelton State Community College enrolls 3,148 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Shelton State Community College?
Shelton State Community College graduates 14% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Shelton State Community College a public or private college?
Shelton State Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Shelton State Community College located?
Shelton State Community College is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
What programs does Shelton State Community College offer?
Shelton State Community College offers 30 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Practical Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Shelton State Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Shelton State Community College is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Alabama
Other colleges in Alabama share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Practical Nursing
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
Cosmetology
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