South Central College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in North Mankato, Minnesota. It enrolls 1,946 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.
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
63/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes32
Value67
Affordability50
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, South Central 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 Central 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 $9,082 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$9,082
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
33%
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
$6,146
Room & Board (off-campus)
$7,400
Books & Supplies
$1,250
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,800
Total Cost of Attendance
$15,401
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
$6,470
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,439
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,368
$75,001 – $110,000
$10,947
Over $110,000
$15,132
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.
$2,29010%percentile
$4,39925%percentile
$12,000Medianpercentile
$15,50075%percentile
$25,25090%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
↓ $2,500
No Pell $6,500
↓ $5,500
Dependent students $6,064
↓ $5,936
Independent students $10,438
↓ $1,562
Female students $9,500
↓ $2,500
Male students $6,124
↓ $5,876
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,665, less than completers ($12,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
27% of full-time students who enrolled at South Central College graduate within six years, and 59% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
27%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
59%
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 Central College earn a median of $45,068 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,068
Earning > $25K
74%
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
$33,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$43,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$33,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$39,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$42,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,100, about 23% 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 ↑
18.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 83% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
South Central College is home to 1,946 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 37% are first-generation college students, 53% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
1,946
Part-Time
53%
First-Generation
37%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 63.6%1,237
Hispanic 15.6%303
Black 10.8%210
International 4.4%86
Other 3.3%64
Asian 1.6%31
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at South Central College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small SuburbNorth Mankato, Minnesota
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
26%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
South Central College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
44 distinct programs across
15 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 Central College is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,512
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$1.4M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$74,989
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
73 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
73
100%
$74,989
Pros & Cons of South Central College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how South Central 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
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, South Central 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 Central College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about South Central College.
Is South Central College hard to get into?
South Central College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at South Central College?
South Central College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does South Central College cost?
The average net price after aid at South Central College is $9,082 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is South Central College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,068 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $9,082 per year. That's roughly 5.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is South Central College known for?
South Central College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Precision Metal Working. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do South Central College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering South Central College are $45,068, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is South Central College accredited?
Yes. South Central College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend South Central College?
South Central College enrolls 1,946 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at South Central College?
South Central College graduates 27% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is South Central College a public or private college?
South Central College is a Public institution.
Where is South Central College located?
South Central College is located in North Mankato, Minnesota.
What programs does South Central College offer?
South Central College offers 44 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Precision Metal Working.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at South Central College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at South Central College is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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