Sonoran Desert Institute Tuition & Outcomes (2026)
Sonoran Desert Institute is a private for-profit trade school in Tempe, Arizona, serving roughly 5,435 students. Programs focus on certificates and workforce credentials that prepare students for skilled trades and technical careers. Typical net price after grant aid is about $20,678 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $12,200. Student demographics in federal data include White (71.3%) and Hispanic or Latino (13.8%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $12,200
- 2024 Average Net Price: $20,678 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 5,435 57.9% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 33.12%
- Carnegie Classification: Special Focus Two-Year: Technical Professions
- First-Generation Students: 50.2%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 2.7% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 11.3% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 5.5%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,618
- Room & Board: $13,984 annual estimate
Sonoran Desert Institute: what the data shows
Common questions about Sonoran Desert Institute, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Sonoran Desert Institute?
Sonoran Desert Institute is located in Tempe, AZ (ZIP 85281).
NCES locale classification: Suburb.
Is Sonoran Desert Institute public or private?
Sonoran Desert Institute is a Private For-profit institution.
How much does Sonoran Desert Institute cost?
Published tuition: $12,200.
Average net price after aid: $20,678.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $20,144 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $20,584 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $20,960 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $23,603 |
| $110,001+ | $25,204 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $48,800.
How big is Sonoran Desert Institute?
Total enrollment: 5,435 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 8,618 students.
About 58% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Sonoran Desert Institute?
150%-time completion rate: 33.12%.
First-year retention: 69.0%.
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $9,500.
32.52% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Sonoran Desert Institute known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Gunsmithing/Gunsmith (2,121 completions)
- Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering Technology/Technician (248 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Sonoran Desert Institute a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 33.12%; net price $20,678. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$12,200
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Sonoran Desert Institute was $12,200.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$20,678
2024 Value
In 2024 Sonoran Desert Institute had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $20,678.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$82,712 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$20,678 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$48,800 4-Year Tuition
$13,984 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$26,184 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$104,736 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Sonoran Desert Institute.
Financial Aid by Income Level
32.52% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
27.78% 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 Sonoran Desert Institute 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 Sonoran Desert Institute in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2016–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $8,490 | $8,490 | — |
| 2017 | $8,490 | $8,490 | $13,124 |
| 2018 | $9,440 | $9,440 | $13,655 |
| 2019 | $9,440 | $9,440 | $14,802 |
| 2020 | $10,630 | $10,630 | $15,753 |
| 2021 | $10,950 | $10,950 | $17,373 |
| 2022 | $11,960 | $11,960 | $17,902 |
| 2023 | $12,280 | $12,280 | $19,921 |
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
Sonoran Desert Institute reported total enrollment of about 5,435 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 98% male and 2% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (71.3%), Hispanic or Latino (13.8%), and Black or African American (5.7%). About 32.52% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 50.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
57.9% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Sonoran Desert Institute in 2024 is 5,435 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 8,618 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
69.0%
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 71.3%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
24.32% 100% Completion Time
33.12% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 24.32% of students graduating from Sonoran Desert Institute completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Gunsmithing/Gunsmith: 98% male / 2% female
- Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering Technology/Technician: 97% male / 3% 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 Sonoran Desert Institute.
Return on Investment
$9,500 Median Student Debt
Financial value analysis for Sonoran Desert Institute.
Top Programs by Completions
2 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 3 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Gunsmithing/Gunsmith: 2,121 completions
2. Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering Technology/Technician: 248 completions
Most popular programs at Sonoran Desert Institute.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Sonoran Desert Institute graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Sonoran Desert Institute from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 5.5%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $4,691
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $2,901
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Sonoran Desert Institute is a private for-profit institution located in Tempe, AZ, classified as Special Focus Two-Year: Technical Professions. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Gunsmithing/Gunsmith, Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering Technology/Technician. Enrollment is approximately 5,435 students. Student body composition includes White (71.3%), Hispanic or Latino (13.8%), Black or African American (5.7%). The 150%-time completion rate is 33.12%. Approximately 32.52% of students receive Pell Grants. About 50.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private For-profit
Carnegie Classification: Special Focus Two-Year: Technical Professions
Location
Tempe, AZ 85281
Region: Southwest
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 33.12% graduation rate at Sonoran Desert Institute 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 Sonoran Desert Institute located?
Sonoran Desert Institute is located in Tempe, AZ.
How much does Sonoran Desert Institute cost?
Reported tuition is $12,200 and average net price is $20,678 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $13,984 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Sonoran Desert Institute?
Sonoran Desert Institute reports undergraduate enrollment of about 8,618 students, White (71.3%), Hispanic or Latino (13.8%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Sonoran Desert Institute?
About 50.2% of students at Sonoran Desert Institute are first-generation college students.
What is the graduation rate at Sonoran Desert Institute?
The 150%-time completion rate is 33.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Sonoran Desert Institute students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $9,500.
Is Sonoran Desert Institute public or private?
Sonoran Desert Institute is a private for-profit institution located in Tempe, AZ.
Is Sonoran Desert Institute an HBCU?
No. Sonoran Desert Institute is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Sonoran Desert Institute a tribal college?
No. Sonoran Desert Institute is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Sonoran Desert Institute a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Sonoran Desert Institute does not meet that proxy (reported share 13.8%).
Is Sonoran Desert Institute religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Sonoran Desert Institute 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
- Arizona college costs
- Arizona colleges by ROI
- Arizona trade schools profile
- Tempe, Arizona city profile
- Southwest regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Arizona
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.