Southern Union State Community College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Southern Union State Community College charges a net price of $6,142/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $24,568. Median earnings ten years after entry are $36,597, 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, Southern Union State Community College does not clear its cost — it ranks #28 of 54 Alabama colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $6,142/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $24,568 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $36,597 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$11,763/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $11,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$259,828 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Southern Union State Community College's own numbers. Net price $6,142 × 4 years = $24,568 total. Median earnings $36,597 fall $11,763 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 $24,568 bill in about 2.5 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Southern Union State Community College students graduate with?
A median $11,000 in federal loans among completers, or 30% of the $36,597 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Southern Union State Community College students graduate?
36% finish their degree — 64% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $24,568 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $68,244 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Southern Union State Community College expensive compared with other Alabama colleges?
Its $6,142 net price runs $8,427 below the $14,569 median across the 54 Alabama colleges we profile, and $33,706 less across the full degree.