Southwestern Community College (SWCC) vs South Central College

Southwestern Community College and South Central College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences tailored to diverse student aspirations. While Southwestern boasts an acceptance rate of 100%, ensuring admission for all qualified applicants, South Central maintains a more selective approach with an acceptance rate of 75%. In terms of student demographics, Southwestern's student body is predominantly female (58%), while South Central's student population is evenly balanced between genders. Both colleges offer a wide range of academic programs, with popular majors including Business Administration, Nursing, and Liberal Arts. However, South Central boasts a higher graduation rate (65%) compared to Southwestern's 55%. To help you make an informed decision about your educational journey, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between these two colleges. Explore the table to discover which institution best aligns with your academic goals and personal preferences.
South Central College logo

South Central College

Southwestern Community College logo

Southwestern Community College

Overview

Location North Mankato, Minnesota Creston, Iowa
Campus setting Suburb: Small Town: Remote
College type 2 year 2 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 48.0% 65.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate Open Admission Open Admission
Application fees
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants
Total number of admissions given out
Admitted students who chose to enroll
Yield rate
Test scores (SAT/ACT) Not required Not required
High school GPA N/A N/A
Recommendation letters N/A N/A
High school transcript N/A N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) N/A N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $19,416
In state: $19,632

Out of state: $19,856
Average net price $10,025 $9,766
Tuition $5,310
In state: $6,170

Out of state: $6,394
Room & board $7,660
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

92.0%
Average amount $4,485
76.0%
Average amount $5,929
Students receiving federal student loan 31.0%
Average amount $4,564
48.0%
Average amount $4,837
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $6,600
5.0%
Average amount $9,606

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,511
Men 43.1% Women 56.9%
1,542
Men 41.9% Women 58.1%
Graduate students N/A N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students N/A 10.2%
International students 2.2% 1.8%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Small Town: Remote
Dormitory capacity N/A 223
First year students are required to live on campus? N/A No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Iowa Missouri Nebraska Puerto Rico Illinois

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering Technologies
  • Business
  • Precision Production
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Automotive Technology
  • Construction Trades
  • Precision Production
Students to faculty ratio 14:1 15:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 30.1% 47.3%
Dropout rate 45.3% 32.7%
Transferred out 14.9% 19.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,865
  • Year 2: $53,608
  • Year 3: $60,763
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $46,087
  • Year 3: $58,877
Precision Metal Working (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $41,193
  • Year 3: $47,023
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $43,798
  • Year 3: $45,920
Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $38,922
  • Year 2: $41,193
  • Year 3: $44,861
Accounting and Related Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $36,042
  • Year 3: $39,303
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,650
  • Year 2: $36,992
  • Year 3: $37,429
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,290
  • Year 2: $33,077
  • Year 3: $35,263
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,122
  • Year 2: $30,554
  • Year 3: $33,793
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,967
  • Year 3: $29,564
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,369
  • Year 2: $46,833
  • Year 3: $48,454
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $22,559
  • Year 2: $20,824
  • Year 3: $30,915
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $26,353
  • Year 3: N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,290
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A

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