South Piedmont Community College is a public community college in Polkton, North Carolina, enrolling about 1,833 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $6,675 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $2,022. Student demographics in federal data include White (46.8%) and Black or African American (21.7%) among the largest enrollment groups.

Key Facts

  • 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $2,022
  • 2024 Average Net Price: $6,675 After Financial Aid
  • 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
  • 2024 Enrolled Students: 1,833 33.1% Full-Time
  • 2024 Graduation Rate: 38.07%
  • Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional
  • First-Generation Students: 47.4%
  • Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.3% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 54.3% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Full-Time Faculty: 33.3%
  • Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,400
  • Room & Board: $14,586 annual estimate

South Piedmont Community College: what the data shows

Common questions about South Piedmont Community College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.

Where is South Piedmont Community College?

South Piedmont Community College is located in Polkton, NC (ZIP 28135).

Is South Piedmont Community College public or private?

South Piedmont Community College is a Public institution.

How much does South Piedmont Community College cost?

Published tuition: $2,022 in-state, $6,630 out-of-state.

Average net price after aid: $6,675.

Family income bandAvg. net price
Family income $0–$30,000$4,948
$30,001–$48,000$5,576
$48,001–$75,000$7,866
$75,001–$110,000$11,281
$110,001+$16,111

Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $8,088.

How big is South Piedmont Community College?

Total enrollment: 1,833 students.

Undergraduate enrollment: 5,400 students.

About 33% enroll full-time in our extract.

What is the graduation rate at South Piedmont Community College?

150%-time completion rate: 38.07%.

First-year retention: 57.0%.

What do graduates of South Piedmont Community College earn?

Median earnings: $31,212 six years after entry; $37,308 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).

How much debt do students have?

17.36% of students receive Pell grants.

What is South Piedmont Community College known for?

Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:

See ROI & Programs for more.

Is South Piedmont Community College a good school?

We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 38.07%; median earnings $37,308 at 10 years; net price $6,675. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.

Tuition & Cost

Tuition Costs

$2,022
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at South Piedmont Community College was $2,022.

Tuition comparison with similar institutions.

Average Net Price

$6,675
2024 Value

In 2024 South Piedmont Community College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $6,675.

Average net price comparison with similar institutions.

Total Cost of Attendance

$26,700 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost

$6,675 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)

$8,088 4-Year In-State Tuition

$26,520 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition

$14,586 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)

$1,400 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)

$18,008 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)

$72,032 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)

4-year total cost breakdown for South Piedmont Community College.

Financial Aid by Income Level

17.36% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

0.00% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

Financial aid distribution by income level.

Student Loan Default Rate

Not reported
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)

The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at South Piedmont Community College was not reported in the College Scorecard extract for this institution.

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 Piedmont Community College in that year.

Reporting years in the table below: 20132023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).

Year In-state tuition & fees Out-of-state tuition & fees Average net price
2013$2,429$8,581$7,753
2014$1,873$6,481$5,686
2015$1,873$6,481$6,048
2016$1,873$6,481$5,806
2017$1,995$6,603$5,662
2018$1,995$6,603$6,148
2019$1,995$6,603$6,278
2020$2,015$6,623$5,727
2021$2,015$6,623$5,239
2022$2,015$6,623$8,917
2023$2,022$6,630$4,072

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 Piedmont Community College reported total enrollment of about 1,833 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 32% male and 68% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (46.8%), Black or African American (21.7%), and Hispanic or Latino (20.8%). About 17.36% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 47.4% of students are first-generation college students.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

33.1% Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at South Piedmont Community College in 2024 is 1,833 students.

Undergraduate enrollment is about 5,400 students.

Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.

Retention Rate over Time

57.0%
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 White at 46.8%.

Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).

College Scorecard student demographics.

Graduates & Outcomes

Time to Complete

27.41% 100% Completion Time

38.07% 150% Completion Time

In 2024, 27.41% of students graduating from South Piedmont Community College completed their program within 100% "normal time".

Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.

Completions by Sex (Top Programs)

  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 36% male / 64% female
  • Business Administration and Management, General: 42% male / 58% female
  • Information Technology: 71% male / 29% 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 Piedmont Community College.

Return on Investment

$37,308 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)

1297.30% Return on Investment

Financial value analysis for South Piedmont Community College.

Top Programs by Completions

10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 28 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).

1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 241 completions

2. Business Administration and Management, General: 52 completions

3. Information Technology: 51 completions

4. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 39 completions

5. Early Childhood Education & Teaching: 36 completions

6. Criminal Justice/Safety Studies: 24 completions

7. Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism: 18 completions

8. 05.1091: 15 completions

9. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician: 14 completions

Most popular programs at South Piedmont Community College.

Employment Outcomes

Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.

Earnings outcomes for South Piedmont Community College graduates.

Operations

Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for South Piedmont Community College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).

Instructional Resources

  • Full-time faculty share: 33.3%
  • Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $6,334
  • Instructional expenditure per FTE: $5,102

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 Piedmont Community College is a public institution located in Polkton, NC, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Business Administration and Management, General, Information Technology. Enrollment is approximately 1,833 students. Student body composition includes White (46.8%), Black or African American (21.7%), Hispanic or Latino (20.8%). The 150%-time completion rate is 38.07%. Approximately 17.36% of students receive Pell Grants. About 47.4% of students are first-generation college students.

Institution Type

Public

Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional

Location

Polkton, NC 28135

Region: Southeast

Insights and Analysis

Graduation Rate Considerations: The 38.07% graduation rate at South Piedmont Community College falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is South Piedmont Community College located?

South Piedmont Community College is located in Polkton, NC.

How much does South Piedmont Community College cost?

Reported tuition is $2,022 and average net price is $6,675 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $14,586 annually.

What is the student body demographics at South Piedmont Community College?

South Piedmont Community College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 5,400 students, White (46.8%), Black or African American (21.7%) in federal College Scorecard data.

How many first-generation students attend South Piedmont Community College?

About 47.4% of students at South Piedmont Community College are first-generation college students.

What do graduates of South Piedmont Community College earn?

Median earnings are $31,212 six years after entry and $37,308 ten years after entry.

What is the graduation rate at South Piedmont Community College?

The 150%-time completion rate is 38.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.

Is South Piedmont Community College public or private?

South Piedmont Community College is a public institution located in Polkton, NC.

Is South Piedmont Community College an HBCU?

No. South Piedmont Community College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.

Is South Piedmont Community College a tribal college?

No. South Piedmont Community College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.

Is South Piedmont Community College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?

Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, South Piedmont Community College does not meet that proxy (reported share 20.8%).

Is South Piedmont Community College religiously affiliated?

No religious affiliation is reported for South Piedmont Community College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • North Carolina trade schools profile
  • Southeast regional profile
  • All state profiles
  • Regional profiles
  • National benchmarks
  • School directory
  • All schools in North Carolina
  • 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.