Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen is a private for-profit institution offering associate degrees based in Harlingen, Texas. It enrolls 543 students (a small, tight-knit 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
62/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes67
Value6
Affordability55
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen 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 Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen 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 $23,724 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private for-profit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$23,724
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
72%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
61%
Borrowing to attend
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
$23,735
$30,001 – $48,000
$23,036
$48,001 – $75,000
$23,836
$75,001 – $110,000
$28,757
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.
$2,68710%percentile
$4,75025%percentile
$8,708Medianpercentile
$9,50075%percentile
$9,50090%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 $7,389
↓ $1,319
No Pell $7,125
↓ $1,583
Dependent students $7,125
↓ $1,583
Independent students $7,917
↓ $791
Female students $8,708
—
Male students $7,125
↓ $1,583
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,354, less than completers ($8,708), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
58% of full-time students who enrolled at Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
58%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen earn a median of $27,035 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$27,035
Earning > $25K
46%
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
$22,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$34,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,200, about 36% 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 ↑
9.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Concerning. Only 28% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen is home to 543 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 64% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
543
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
64%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 62.4%339
White 24.9%135
Other 11.2%61
Black 1.1%6
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityHarlingen, Texas
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
37%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Continuousscheduling structure
Designation
Branch campus
What You Can Study
Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen offers
a focused set of programs:
4 distinct programs across
3 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 Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen is 25:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
25:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Pros & Cons of Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Open admissions
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Above-average net price
Larger class sizes than typical
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Modest first-year retention
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Best for:
Based on the data, Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen.
Is Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen hard to get into?
Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen?
Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen cost?
The average net price after aid at Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen is $23,724 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $27,035 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $23,724 per year. That's roughly 1.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen known for?
Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen is best known for its programs in Medical Assisting, Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians, Health Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen are $27,035, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen accredited?
Yes. Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
How many students attend Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen?
Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen enrolls 543 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen?
Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen graduates 58% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen a public or private college?
Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen is a Private For-Profit institution.
Where is Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen located?
Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen is located in Harlingen, Texas.
What programs does Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen offer?
Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen offers 4 distinct programs. The most popular include Medical Assisting, Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians, Health Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen is 25:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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