South College is a private for-profit 2-year college in Knoxville, Tennessee with 8,745 undergraduates. It has open admission, costs an average of $17,273 a year after grants and graduates 45% of its students.
Figures from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, released October 15, 2026. What each number covers.
South College acceptance rate and admissions
South College has open admission: it admits students with a high school diploma or equivalent. Some programs, such as nursing or other health fields, can have their own entry requirements.
South College tuition, cost and net price
| Tuition and fees (2025-26) | $19,360 |
|---|---|
| Total cost of attendance (2024-25) | $30,485 |
| Average net price after grants (2024-25) | $17,273 |
Students who get federal aid pay an average of $17,273 a year after grants and scholarships, $13,212 less than the full cost of attendance.
What families pay, by income
Average yearly cost after grants for aided first-time students, by family income (2024-25):
Your own price depends on your family's full situation. Run South College's net price calculator for a personal estimate, or make a "what it costs us" card.
South College graduation rate, earnings and debt
- 45% of first-time, full-time students finished within three years (students who started in 2022).
- Former students earned a median of $45,099 a year, 10 years after they started (students who received federal aid and were working).
- Students who completed left with a median of $19,564 in federal student loans.
Earnings compared
Debt compared
Median debt is 43% of median earnings 10 years after entry. Many advisers suggest keeping total student debt below one year of expected pay. See the monthly payment.
South College majors and what graduates earn
South College awarded bachelor's degrees in 24 fields recently. The best-paid graduates four years out came from nursing ($77,096).
All 24 majors at South College
| Major | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing | 262 | $78,574 | $77,096 | $28,209 |
| Allied health (PA, radiography, therapy and more) | 25 | $66,384 | $55,361 | $27,142 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | 64 | $44,546 | n/a | $33,667 |
| Health administration | 25 | n/a | n/a | $34,350 |
| Criminal justice | 22 | $45,481 | n/a | $31,000 |
| Medical lab science | 19 | $36,277 | n/a | $39,870 |
| Business administration | 16 | $60,508 | n/a | n/a |
| Dental hygiene and assisting | 15 | $66,134 | n/a | $33,837 |
| Pharmacy | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Medical assisting | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Computer science | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Legal studies | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Computer and information sciences | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Teacher education by grade level | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Marketing | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Computer Programming | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| IT and network administration | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Accounting | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Finance | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Human resources | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Four-year earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Fields with few graduates have no published earnings.
Graduate programs at South College
26 graduate programs awarded degrees recently. Largest first.
Show 26 graduate programs
| Program | Degree | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied health (PA, radiography, therapy and more) | Master's | 213 | $111,525 | $191,578 |
| Physical and occupational therapy | Professional doctorate | 176 | $75,209 | $133,907 |
| Nursing | Master's | 69 | $90,495 | $51,035 |
| Pharmacy | Professional doctorate | 49 | $114,391 | $258,983 |
| Education leadership | Professional doctorate | 17 | n/a | n/a |
| Business administration | Master's | 17 | $68,210 | n/a |
| Health administration | Master's | 16 | n/a | $30,553 |
| Public health | Master's | 8 | n/a | n/a |
| Business administration | Professional doctorate | 8 | n/a | n/a |
| Nursing | Professional doctorate | 6 | n/a | n/a |
| Marketing | Master's | 5 | n/a | n/a |
| Curriculum and Instruction | Master's | 4 | n/a | n/a |
| Teacher education by grade level | Master's | 4 | n/a | n/a |
| Criminal justice | Master's | 4 | n/a | n/a |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | Master's | 3 | n/a | n/a |
| Security Science and Technology | Master's | 3 | n/a | n/a |
| IT and network administration | Master's | 2 | n/a | n/a |
| Religious studies | Master's | 2 | n/a | n/a |
| Religious studies | Professional doctorate | 2 | n/a | n/a |
| Public administration | Master's | 2 | n/a | n/a |
| Finance | Master's | 2 | n/a | n/a |
| Computer and information sciences | Master's | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Computer Programming | Master's | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | Professional doctorate | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Accounting | Master's | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Business analytics and operations research | Master's | 0 | n/a | n/a |
Trade and career programs at South College
Certificate and associate programs in the trades we track. One-year earnings are for graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, four-year earnings for graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, both in 2024 dollars.
| Program | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LPN and CNA | Certificate | 245 | $51,986 | n/a | $13,723 |
| EMT, surgical tech and imaging | Associate degree | 175 | $59,128 | $53,367 | $24,125 |
| Medical assistant | Associate degree | 66 | $39,542 | $46,109 | $22,419 |
| Phlebotomy and medical lab | Associate degree | 52 | $37,850 | $61,037 | $20,000 |
| Medical assistant | Certificate | 48 | $28,683 | $36,738 | $9,500 |
| Dental assisting and hygiene | Associate degree | 38 | $60,111 | n/a | $28,260 |
| Dental assisting and hygiene | Certificate | 15 | $30,479 | n/a | n/a |
| EMT, surgical tech and imaging | Certificate | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Paralegal | Certificate | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Paralegal | Associate degree | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Medical billing and coding | Associate degree | 2 | n/a | n/a | $15,619 |
Students and location
- 8,745 degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2024)
- 90% women, 10% men
- 25 students for every faculty member
- Setting: midsize city
- Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Frequently asked questions
Is it hard to get into South College?
No. South College has open admission for students with a high school diploma or equivalent. Some programs may have extra requirements.
How much does South College cost?
Tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $19,360. After grants and scholarships, aided students paid an average net price of $17,273 a year in 2024-25.
What is the graduation rate at South College?
45% of first-time, full-time students finished within three years.
How much do South College graduates make?
Former students who received federal aid earned a median of $45,099 a year 10 years after they started, in 2024 dollars.
Similar colleges
Matched on location, type, selectivity, size, net price and graduation rate.
More: all colleges in Tennessee · colleges in Knoxville · South College on the College Scorecard
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, data release of October 15, 2026. What each figure means and the year it covers.