South Texas College is a public community college in McAllen, Texas, with about 15,856 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $1,751 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $4,920. Student demographics in federal data include Hispanic or Latino (94.9%) and White (2.2%) among the largest enrollment groups.

Key Facts

  • 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $4,920
  • 2024 Average Net Price: $1,751 After Financial Aid
  • 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
  • 2024 Enrolled Students: 15,856 45.3% Full-Time
  • 2024 Graduation Rate: 27.29%
  • Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Larger Programs
  • First-Generation Students: 60.9%
  • Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 16.3% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 15.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Full-Time Faculty: 55.6%
  • Undergraduate Enrollment: 37,077
  • Room & Board: $8,638 annual estimate

South Texas College: what the data shows

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

Where is South Texas College?

South Texas College is located in McAllen, TX (ZIP 78501).

NCES locale classification: Suburb.

Is South Texas College public or private?

South Texas College is a Public institution.

How much does South Texas College cost?

Published tuition: $4,920 in-state, $7,620 out-of-state.

Average net price after aid: $1,751.

Family income bandAvg. net price
Family income $0–$30,000$1,395
$30,001–$48,000$1,651
$48,001–$75,000$3,841
$75,001–$110,000$5,274
$110,001+$5,020

Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $19,680.

How big is South Texas College?

Total enrollment: 15,856 students.

Undergraduate enrollment: 37,077 students.

About 45% enroll full-time in our extract.

What is the graduation rate at South Texas College?

150%-time completion rate: 27.29%.

First-year retention: 58.5%.

What do graduates of South Texas College earn?

Median earnings: $28,239 six years after entry; $36,788 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).

How much debt do students have?

38.80% of students receive Pell grants.

What is South Texas College known for?

Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:

See ROI & Programs for more.

Is South Texas College a good school?

We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 27.29%; median earnings $36,788 at 10 years; net price $1,751. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.

Tuition & Cost

Tuition Costs

$4,920
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at South Texas College was $4,920.

Tuition comparison with similar institutions.

Average Net Price

$1,751
2024 Value

In 2024 South Texas College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $1,751.

Average net price comparison with similar institutions.

Total Cost of Attendance

$7,004 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost

$1,751 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)

$19,680 4-Year In-State Tuition

$30,480 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition

$8,638 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)

$1,600 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)

$15,158 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)

$60,632 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)

4-year total cost breakdown for South Texas College.

Financial Aid by Income Level

38.80% 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 Texas 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 Texas 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$3,246$7,260$1,357
2014$3,306$4,464$1,158
2015$3,486$4,440$1,745
2016$3,606$4,560$1,717
2017$3,720$7,620$2,096
2018$3,780$7,680$1,445
2019$4,140$7,830$1,174
2020$4,230$7,920$1,504
2021$4,230$7,920$1,291
2022$4,230$7,500$1,522
2023$4,920$7,500$1,291

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 Texas College reported total enrollment of about 15,856 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 42% male and 58% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (94.9%), White (2.2%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (1.3%). About 38.80% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 60.9% of students are first-generation college students.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

45.3% Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at South Texas College in 2024 is 15,856 students.

Undergraduate enrollment is about 37,077 students.

Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.

Retention Rate over Time

58.5%
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 Hispanic or Latino at 94.9%.

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

College Scorecard student demographics.

Graduates & Outcomes

Time to Complete

14.81% 100% Completion Time

27.29% 150% Completion Time

In 2024, 14.81% of students graduating from South Texas College completed their program within 100% "normal time".

Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.

Completions by Sex (Top Programs)

  • General Studies: 34% male / 66% female
  • Welding Technology/Welder: 95% male / 5% female
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 42% male / 58% 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: Hispanic or Latino.

Summed across program completion records in our extract.

ROI & Programs

Financial value and program information for South Texas College.

Return on Investment

$36,788 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)

5152.43% Return on Investment

Financial value analysis for South Texas College.

Top Programs by Completions

10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 73 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).

1. General Studies: 1,107 completions

2. Welding Technology/Welder: 480 completions

3. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 354 completions

4. Computer and Information Sciences, General: 345 completions

5. Business/Commerce, General: 300 completions

6. Business Administration and Management, General: 298 completions

7. Criminal Justice/Safety Studies: 241 completions

8. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 238 completions

9. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 159 completions

Most popular programs at South Texas College.

Employment Outcomes

Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.

Earnings outcomes for South Texas College graduates.

Operations

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

Instructional Resources

  • Full-time faculty share: 55.6%
  • Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $7,665
  • Instructional expenditure per FTE: $5,695

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 Texas College is a public institution located in McAllen, TX, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Larger Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were General Studies, Welding Technology/Welder, Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. Enrollment is approximately 15,856 students. Student body composition includes Hispanic or Latino (94.9%), White (2.2%), Race/ethnicity unknown (1.3%). The 150%-time completion rate is 27.29%. Approximately 38.80% of students receive Pell Grants. About 60.9% of students are first-generation college students.

Institution Type

Public

Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Larger Programs

Location

McAllen, TX 78501

Region: Southwest

Insights and Analysis

Graduation Rate Considerations: The 27.29% graduation rate at South Texas 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.

Diverse Program Offerings: With over 73 distinct degree programs, South Texas 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 Texas College located?

South Texas College is located in McAllen, TX.

How much does South Texas College cost?

Reported tuition is $4,920 and average net price is $1,751 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $8,638 annually.

What is the student body demographics at South Texas College?

South Texas College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 37,077 students, Hispanic or Latino (94.9%), White (2.2%) in federal College Scorecard data.

How many first-generation students attend South Texas College?

About 60.9% of students at South Texas College are first-generation college students.

What do graduates of South Texas College earn?

Median earnings are $28,239 six years after entry and $36,788 ten years after entry.

What is the graduation rate at South Texas College?

The 150%-time completion rate is 27.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.

Is South Texas College public or private?

South Texas College is a public institution located in McAllen, TX.

Is South Texas College an HBCU?

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

Is South Texas College a tribal college?

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

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

By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—South Texas College reports 94.9% Hispanic enrollment share.

Is South Texas College religiously affiliated?

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

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • Texas trade schools profile
  • McAllen, Texas city profile
  • Southwest regional profile
  • All state profiles
  • Regional profiles
  • National benchmarks
  • School directory
  • All schools in Texas
  • 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.