South Central College — ROI, Cost & Payback
South Central College charges a net price of $9,082/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $18,164. Median earnings ten years after entry are $45,068, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, South Central College does not clear its cost — it ranks #45 of 68 Minnesota colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $9,082/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $18,164 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $45,068 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$3,292/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $12,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$84,004 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on South Central College's own numbers. Net price $9,082 × 2 years = $18,164 total. Median earnings $45,068 fall $3,292 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $18,164 bill in about 1.8 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do South Central College students graduate with?
A median $12,000 in federal loans among completers, or 27% of the $45,068 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of South Central College students graduate?
39% finish their degree — 61% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $18,164 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $46,574 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is South Central College expensive compared with other Minnesota colleges?
Its $9,082 net price runs $7,739 below the $16,821 median across the 68 Minnesota colleges we profile, and $15,477 less across the full degree.