South Mountain Community College

South Mountain Community College is a public institution located in Phoenix, Arizona, with an enrollment of approximately 3,645 students. The college offers programs in fields including construction management and plumbing, among others.

In-state tuition is $2,358 per year, while out-of-state students pay $8,958 per year. The average annual net price — the estimated total cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, and living expenses, after grant and scholarship aid is applied — is $12,780. This figure can exceed published tuition because it reflects the full cost of attending, not tuition alone. About 29.6% of students receive Pell Grants, a federal aid program for students with financial need.

Federal student loans are relatively uncommon at South Mountain: only 8.5% of all students borrow through federal loan programs. Among students who did complete a credential and borrowed federally, the median loan debt was $8,000. However, the three-year loan repayment rate — the share of borrowers whose loan balance is actively decreasing — stands at 21.6%, meaning that the large majority of borrowers are not reducing their balances within three years of entering repayment. This figure covers all borrowers, including those who did not complete a program.

The college's graduation rate is 16.3%. This reflects the share of students who complete a credential within a measured timeframe and is a figure commonly tracked across community colleges, where many students attend part-time, transfer before completing, or pursue goals other than a credential. Median earnings, measured ten years after enrollment, are $39,825. This figure covers all federally aided students who enrolled — including those who did not complete a credential — so it does not represent graduate earnings alone.

South Mountain Community College may be worth considering for Arizona residents seeking low-cost access to career-focused programs in the trades or construction fields. Prospective students should weigh the full annual cost of attendance, the loan repayment data, and the graduation rate as part of their decision-making.