Southern Union State Community College Tuition &
Southern Union State Community College is a public community college in Wadley, Alabama, serving roughly 4,173 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $6,142 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $5,040. Student demographics in federal data include White (67.2%) and Black or African American (19.8%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $5,040
- 2024 Average Net Price: $6,142 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 4,173 60.8% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 35.78%
- Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-High Traditional
- First-Generation Students: 44.2%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 1.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 2.1% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 38.5%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,026
- Room & Board: $6,000 annual estimate
Southern Union State Community College: what the data shows
Common questions about Southern Union State Community College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Southern Union State Community College?
Southern Union State Community College is located in Wadley, AL (ZIP 36276).
Is Southern Union State Community College public or private?
Southern Union State Community College is a Public institution.
How much does Southern Union State Community College cost?
Published tuition: $5,040 in-state, $8,910 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $6,142.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $3,543 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $5,160 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $7,173 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $10,247 |
| $110,001+ | $10,953 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $20,160.
How big is Southern Union State Community College?
Total enrollment: 4,173 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 7,026 students.
About 61% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Southern Union State Community College?
150%-time completion rate: 35.78%.
First-year retention: 67.2%.
What do graduates of Southern Union State Community College earn?
Median earnings: $32,844 six years after entry; $36,597 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $11,000.
34.05% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Southern Union State Community College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- General Studies (675 completions)
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training (126 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (113 completions)
- Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician (103 completions)
- Industrial Electronics Technology/Technician (53 completions)
- Computer and Information Sciences, General (46 completions)
- Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) (46 completions)
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General (42 completions)
- Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (39 completions)
- Welding Technology/Welder (39 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Southern Union State Community College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 35.78%; median earnings $36,597 at 10 years; net price $6,142. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$5,040
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Southern Union State Community College was $5,040.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$6,142
2024 Value
In 2024 Southern Union State Community College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $6,142.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$24,568 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$6,142 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$20,160 4-Year In-State Tuition
$35,640 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$6,000 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,700 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$12,740 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$50,960 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Southern Union State Community College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
34.05% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
22.47% 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 Southern Union State Community 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 Southern Union State Community 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 | $3,640 | $6,748 | $8,275 |
| 2014 | $3,696 | $6,860 | $7,575 |
| 2015 | $3,752 | $6,972 | $7,549 |
| 2016 | $4,352 | $8,096 | $7,679 |
| 2017 | $4,140 | $7,710 | $10,083 |
| 2018 | $4,440 | $8,310 | $9,230 |
| 2019 | $4,800 | $8,730 | $8,493 |
| 2020 | $4,860 | $8,850 | $8,383 |
| 2021 | $4,860 | $8,550 | $7,780 |
| 2022 | $4,920 | $8,670 | $8,840 |
| 2023 | $4,980 | $8,790 | $8,652 |
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
Southern Union State Community College reported total enrollment of about 4,173 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 44% male and 56% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (67.2%), Black or African American (19.8%), and Hispanic or Latino (5.6%). About 34.05% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 44.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
60.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Southern Union State Community College in 2024 is 4,173 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 7,026 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
67.2%
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 White at 67.2%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
22.04% 100% Completion Time
35.78% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 22.04% of students graduating from Southern Union State Community College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- General Studies: 42% male / 58% female
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training: 10% male / 90% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 12% male / 88% 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 Southern Union State Community College.
Return on Investment
$11,000 Median Student Debt
$36,597 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
30.06% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
1389.62% Return on Investment
3.0 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Southern Union State Community College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 25 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. General Studies: 675 completions
2. Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training: 126 completions
3. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 113 completions
4. Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician: 103 completions
5. Industrial Electronics Technology/Technician: 53 completions
6. Computer and Information Sciences, General: 46 completions
7. Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic): 46 completions
8. Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General: 42 completions
9. Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other: 39 completions
Most popular programs at Southern Union State Community College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Southern Union State Community College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Southern Union State Community College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 38.5%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $7,235
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $5,727
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Southern Union State Community College is a public institution located in Wadley, AL, classified as Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-High Traditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were General Studies, Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. Enrollment is approximately 4,173 students. Student body composition includes White (67.2%), Black or African American (19.8%), Hispanic or Latino (5.6%). The 150%-time completion rate is 35.78%. Approximately 34.05% of students receive Pell Grants. About 44.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-High Traditional
Location
Wadley, AL 36276
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 35.78% graduation rate at Southern Union State 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 Southern Union State Community College located?
Southern Union State Community College is located in Wadley, AL.
How much does Southern Union State Community College cost?
Reported tuition is $5,040 and average net price is $6,142 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $6,000 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Southern Union State Community College?
Southern Union State Community College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 7,026 students, White (67.2%), Black or African American (19.8%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Southern Union State Community College?
About 44.2% of students at Southern Union State Community College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Southern Union State Community College earn?
Median earnings are $32,844 six years after entry and $36,597 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Southern Union State Community College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 35.8% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Southern Union State Community College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $11,000.
Is Southern Union State Community College public or private?
Southern Union State Community College is a public institution located in Wadley, AL.
Is Southern Union State Community College an HBCU?
No. Southern Union State Community College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Southern Union State Community College a tribal college?
No. Southern Union State Community College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Southern Union State Community College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Southern Union State Community College does not meet that proxy (reported share 5.6%).
Is Southern Union State Community College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Southern Union State Community 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
- Alabama college costs
- Alabama colleges by ROI
- Alabama trade schools profile
- Southeast regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Alabama
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.