Somerset Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Somerset, Kentucky. It enrolls 4,166 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.
Strong
76/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes47
Value83
Affordability78
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Somerset 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 Somerset 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 $4,398 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$4,398
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
49%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
20%
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)
$4,728
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$6,432
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,814
Books & Supplies
$1,268
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,602
Total Cost of Attendance
$12,959
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
$3,671
$30,001 – $48,000
$3,524
$48,001 – $75,000
$5,103
$75,001 – $110,000
$7,596
Over $110,000
$9,860
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.
$1,91910%percentile
$3,50025%percentile
$12,215Medianpercentile
$15,75075%percentile
$27,10090%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 $8,500
↓ $3,715
No Pell $5,500
↓ $6,715
Dependent students $5,600
↓ $6,615
Independent students $10,379
↓ $1,836
Female students $8,527
↓ $3,688
Male students $6,581
↓ $5,634
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($12,215), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
21% of full-time students who enrolled at Somerset Community College graduate within six years, and 66% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
21%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
66%
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 Somerset Community College earn a median of $30,787 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$30,787
Earning > $25K
52%
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
$24,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$33,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$24,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$31,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$39,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,000, about 27% 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 ↑
19.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 58% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Somerset Community College is home to 4,166 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 56% are first-generation college students, 45% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
4,166
Part-Time
45%
First-Generation
56%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 90.1%3,755
Hispanic 4.3%181
Other 2.9%122
Black 1.4%60
Asian 0.7%29
International 0.1%3
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Somerset Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteSomerset, Kentucky
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
30%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Somerset Community College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
41 distinct programs across
14 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 Somerset Community College is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$4,312
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$49,764
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
136 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
45
33%
$58,994
Associate Professors
29
21%
$49,563
Assistant Professors
15
11%
$42,783
Instructors
47
35%
$43,279
Pros & Cons of Somerset Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Somerset Community 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
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
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Best for:
Based on the data, Somerset Community 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 Somerset Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Somerset Community College.
Is Somerset Community College hard to get into?
Somerset Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Somerset Community College?
Somerset Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Somerset Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Somerset Community College is $4,398 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Somerset Community College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $30,787 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $4,398 per year. That's roughly 7.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Somerset Community College known for?
Somerset Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Health Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Somerset Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Somerset Community College are $30,787, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Somerset Community College accredited?
Yes. Somerset Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Somerset Community College?
Somerset Community College enrolls 4,166 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Somerset Community College?
Somerset Community College graduates 21% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Somerset Community College a public or private college?
Somerset Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Somerset Community College located?
Somerset Community College is located in Somerset, Kentucky.
What programs does Somerset Community College offer?
Somerset Community College offers 41 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Health Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Somerset Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Somerset Community College is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Kentucky
Other colleges in Kentucky 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.
Liberal Arts
Practical Nursing
Vehicle Maintenance
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