10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$169,848at year 10Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
South Central College
⌖ North Mankato, MN · 17 reportable field-and-credential outcomes
10-year estimate · Negative payoff
−$169,848 over 10 years
Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.
With these assumptions, the added earnings do not recover the cost within ten years.
46.5 yrsModeled economic break-even
−79%Modeled 10-year ROI
$49,648Observed earnings · year 5
Not reachedMaximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
What the numbers say about South Central College
What does South Central College cost?
South Central College reports an average annual net price of $9,082 after grants and scholarships. This is an institution-wide average, not an individual aid offer.
What do South Central College graduates earn?
The observed median earnings figure is $49,648 5 years after completion. It describes a federal cohort, not a guaranteed starting salary.
How much federal debt do South Central College graduates have?
Completer borrowers report median cumulative federal student debt of $12,000. Parent PLUS and private loans are not included.
Is every degree at South Central College worth the same?
No. DegreeVerdict currently shows 17 field-and-credential outcomes at South Central College; reported earnings and debt can differ substantially by program category.
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK
Estimated payoff over ten years.
The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.
FEDERAL COST DATA
Four ways to read college price.
Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$133,520
$8,000Annual price−$165,520
$9,000Current college-wide context−$169,520
$16,000Annual price−$197,520
$24,000Annual price−$229,520
$32,000Annual price−$261,520
$40,000Annual price−$293,520
COLLEGE AT A GLANCE
Institution details
Current federal characteristics describing the college, not the outcomes of a specific program.
- Accreditor
- Higher Learning Commission
- Main award level
- Associate degrees
- Campus setting
- Suburban
- Admissions
- Open admission
- Delivery
- Campus or mixed delivery
- Federal designation
- No special designation reported
Cost, debt, completion and earnings context
$9,082Average net price / year
$15,401Cost of attendance
$12,000Median federal student debt · completer borrowers
$127/moPublished 10-year payment estimate
$49,648Median earnings · year 5 after completion
39.1%Completion rate
Not availableAdmission rate
1,946Student size
Institution debt covers federal student-loan borrowers who completed. Parent PLUS and private loans are excluded; missing and privacy-suppressed values remain unavailable.
WHO PAYS, WHO FINISHES, WHO EARNS
Outcomes are not the same for every family.
These federal cohorts add context that a single college average can hide. Missing figures remain unreported rather than estimated.
Complete within 150% of the expected time
37% received a Pell Grant within eight yearsMedian Parent PLUS debt
16 parent borrowers in the reported cohortMedian federal student debt
48% making progress in repayment after three yearsStudent family incomeMedian earnings after 10 yearsObserved federal cohorts
Lower income$40,713Earnings are not a guarantee
Middle income$47,759Earnings are not a guarantee
Higher income$50,925Earnings are not a guarantee
Three-year repayment progress
Lower income37%
Middle income59%
Higher income70%
Source: College Scorecard, June 2026 release. Parent PLUS debt belongs to parents; student-debt measures exclude Parent PLUS and private loans. Cohort definitions differ by measure.
INDEPENDENT CENSUS EARNINGS VIEW
How earnings develop by field
Privacy-protected Census employment records follow graduate cohorts one, five and ten years after completion. This source is kept separate from College Scorecard because its population and methodology differ.
Field and credentialYear 1Year 5Year 10
Computer Programming.Associate degree · Broad federal field 11
$43,047Year 1
$61,167Year 5
$85,137Year 10
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences.Associate degree · Broad federal field 51
$49,308Year 1
$63,850Year 5
$82,785Year 10
Boilermaking/Boilermaker.Certificate, 2–4 years · Broad federal field 48
$53,696Year 1
$62,224Year 5
$70,135Year 10
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians.Associate degree · Broad federal field 15
$60,342Year 1
$71,212Year 5
$67,570Year 10
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians.Certificate, 2–4 years · Broad federal field 47
$42,686Year 1
$53,343Year 5
$65,759Year 10
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences.Certificate, 1–2 years · Broad federal field 51
$43,047Year 1
$54,051Year 5
$64,996Year 10
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.Associate degree · Broad federal field 24
$29,775Year 1
$47,705Year 5
$58,815Year 10
Accounting and Related Services.Associate degree · Broad federal field 52
$41,572Year 1
$49,651Year 5
$58,511Year 10
Median annual earnings in 2023 dollars. Each time point may use a different pooled graduation cohort. Coverage is limited to institutions participating in the Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes program.
NATIONAL CONTEXT
How this college compares
Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.
WHAT STANDS OUT
A faster read on this college
These summaries use only reportable field-and-credential records at this institution. They do not fill privacy-suppressed outcomes.
EARNINGS PATH
Reported earnings over time
$42,874Year 1
$52,003Year 4
$49,648Year 5
Separate federal cohorts may underlie different measurement years.
The college average is not the whole story.
Observed earnings vary substantially by field and credential at the same institution.
1Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Associate's Degree$85,6852Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians · Associate's Degree$66,9323Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians · Associate's Degree$66,8204Agricultural Business and Management · Associate's Degree$60,2825Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management · Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma$56,1186Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions · Associate's Degree$54,9247Precision Metal Working · Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma$54,2638Accounting and Related Services · Associate's Degree$51,971Observed year-4 earnings · compare like fields and credentials before deciding
Programs that stand out against the same-degree benchmark
This view rewards performance relative to the same field and credential, not simply majors that pay more everywhere.
1Agricultural Business and ManagementAssociate's Degree · $60,282 reported+26%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt2Health and Medical Administrative ServicesUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma · $42,414 reported+20%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt3Graphic CommunicationsAssociate's Degree · $40,769 reported+13%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt4Precision Metal WorkingUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma · $54,263 reported+11%vs same-degree national median$3,666federal debt5Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesAssociate's Degree · $37,497 reported+10%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt6Accounting and Related ServicesAssociate's Degree · $51,971 reported+9%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt
Comparable colleges in MN
Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive, not a quality ranking.
Granite Falls, MN
Minnesota West Community and Technical College
- Annual net price
- $11,191
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $50,368
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -76%
Minnesota North College
- Annual net price
- $10,432
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $47,781
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -87%
St Cloud Technical and Community College
- Annual net price
- $9,635
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $52,595
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -65%
Ridgewater College
- Annual net price
- $10,046
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $46,511
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -93%
Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes
| Federal field | Credential | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 2023–24 awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate's Degree | $85,685 | $28,072 | Not reported |
| Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians | Associate's Degree | $66,932 | $13,268 | Not reported |
| Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | Associate's Degree | $66,820 | $8,450 | Not reported |
| Agricultural Business and Management | Associate's Degree | $60,282 | Not available | 1 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $56,118 | Not available | Not reported |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | Associate's Degree | $54,924 | Not available | Not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $54,263 | $3,666 | 9 |
| Accounting and Related Services | Associate's Degree | $51,971 | Not available | Not reported |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | Associate's Degree | $51,550 | Not available | 1 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $49,884 | Not available | 6 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Associate's Degree | $49,458 | Not available | Not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate's Degree | $48,560 | Not available | Not reported |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Associate's Degree | $47,351 | $12,239 | Not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $42,414 | Not available | 0 |
| Graphic Communications | Associate's Degree | $40,769 | Not available | 0 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate's Degree | $38,294 | Not available | Not reported |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | Associate's Degree | $37,497 | Not available | Not reported |
Awards use first-major IPEDS completions aggregated to the same four-digit field and credential.
Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.