South College Tuition, Demographics & Completion (2026)
South College is a private for-profit two-year college in Knoxville, Tennessee, serving roughly 8,745 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $17,858 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $18,535. Student demographics in federal data include Black or African American (43.5%) and White (41.2%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $18,535
- 2024 Average Net Price: $17,858 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 8,745 80.2% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 42.11%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
- First-Generation Students: 47.3%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 3.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 7.4% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 33.5%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,643
- Room & Board: $16,920 annual estimate
South College: what the data shows
Common questions about South College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is South College?
South College is located in Knoxville, TN (ZIP 37909-0000).
NCES locale classification: Suburb.
Is South College public or private?
South College is a Private For-profit institution.
How much does South College cost?
Published tuition: $18,535.
Average net price after aid: $17,858.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $16,820 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $17,983 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $18,964 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $22,710 |
| $110,001+ | $23,053 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $74,140.
How big is South College?
Total enrollment: 8,745 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 19,643 students.
Graduate enrollment: 2,775 students.
About 80% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at South College?
150%-time completion rate: 42.11%.
First-year retention: 52.2%.
What do graduates of South College earn?
Median earnings: $37,570 six years after entry; $36,642 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $18,668.
48.80% of students receive Pell grants.
What is South College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Pre-Nursing Studies (710 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (266 completions)
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training (243 completions)
- Physician Associate/Assistant (213 completions)
- Physical Therapy/Therapist (176 completions)
- Family Practice Nurse/Nursing (121 completions)
- 05.1091 (106 completions)
- Clinical/Medical Laboratory Technician (71 completions)
- Medical/Clinical Assistant (62 completions)
- Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer (62 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is South College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 42.11%; median earnings $36,642 at 10 years; net price $17,858. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$18,535
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at South College was $18,535.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$17,858
2024 Value
In 2024 South College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $17,858.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$71,432 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$17,858 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$74,140 4-Year Tuition
$16,920 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,500 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$36,955 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$147,820 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for South College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
48.80% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
62.47% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at South College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for South College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $18,875 | $18,875 | $28,696 |
| 2014 | $19,475 | $19,475 | $29,488 |
| 2015 | $19,425 | $19,425 | $27,711 |
| 2016 | $18,375 | $18,375 | $26,209 |
| 2017 | $18,000 | $18,000 | $23,907 |
| 2018 | $16,575 | $16,575 | $19,413 |
| 2019 | $17,025 | $17,025 | $17,816 |
| 2020 | $16,975 | $16,975 | $15,176 |
| 2021 | $17,335 | $17,335 | $15,838 |
| 2022 | $17,335 | $17,335 | $15,997 |
| 2023 | $17,935 | $17,935 | $17,182 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
South College reported total enrollment of about 8,745 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 10% male and 90% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Black or African American (43.5%), White (41.2%), and Two or More Races (5.9%). About 48.80% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 47.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
80.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at South College in 2024 is 8,745 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 19,643 students. Graduate enrollment is about 2,775 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
52.2%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Black or African American at 43.5%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
50.00% 100% Completion Time
42.11% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 50.00% of students graduating from South College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Pre-Nursing Studies: 7% male / 93% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 14% male / 86% female
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training: 9% male / 91% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for South College.
Return on Investment
$18,668 Median Student Debt
$36,642 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
50.95% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
412.96% Return on Investment
5.1 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for South College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 69 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Pre-Nursing Studies: 710 completions
2. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 266 completions
3. Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training: 243 completions
4. Physician Associate/Assistant: 213 completions
5. Physical Therapy/Therapist: 176 completions
6. Family Practice Nurse/Nursing: 121 completions
7. 05.1091: 106 completions
8. Clinical/Medical Laboratory Technician: 71 completions
9. Medical/Clinical Assistant: 62 completions
Most popular programs at South College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for South College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for South College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 33.5%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $8,750
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $4,599
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
South College is a private for-profit institution located in Knoxville, TN, classified as Doctoral/Professional Universities. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Pre-Nursing Studies, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training. Enrollment is approximately 8,745 students. Student body composition includes Black or African American (43.5%), White (41.2%), Two or More Races (5.9%). The 150%-time completion rate is 42.11%. Approximately 48.80% of students receive Pell Grants. About 47.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private For-profit
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
Location
Knoxville, TN 37909-0000
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 69 distinct degree programs, South College provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is South College located?
South College is located in Knoxville, TN.
How much does South College cost?
Reported tuition is $18,535 and average net price is $17,858 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $16,920 annually.
What is the student body demographics at South College?
South College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 19,643 students, Black or African American (43.5%), White (41.2%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend South College?
About 47.3% of students at South College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of South College earn?
Median earnings are $37,570 six years after entry and $36,642 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at South College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 42.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do South College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $18,668.
Is South College public or private?
South College is a private for-profit institution located in Knoxville, TN.
Is South College an HBCU?
No. South College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is South College a tribal college?
No. South College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is South College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, South College does not meet that proxy (reported share 1.7%).
Is South College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for South College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Tennessee college costs
- Tennessee colleges by ROI
- Knoxville, Tennessee city profile
- Southeast regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Tennessee
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.