South University-Montgomery

South University-Montgomery is a private, for-profit institution located in Montgomery, Alabama, with an enrollment of approximately 299 students. Programs offered include fields relevant to careers in accounting, health services management, compliance, epidemiology, supply chain management, and criminal justice, among others.

Tuition is $18,145 per year regardless of in-state or out-of-state status. However, 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 $27,807. This figure exceeds published tuition because it reflects the full cost of attending, not tuition alone. Approximately 65.6% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating that a substantial majority of the student body demonstrates financial need. About 69.5% of all students take out federal student loans, and among those who completed a credential, the median federal loan debt was $26,123.

The three-year loan repayment rate — the share of borrowers whose loan balance is actively being reduced — stands at 25.5%. This means that roughly three in four borrowers are not reducing their loan balance within three years of entering repayment, which may reflect a mix of income-driven repayment plans, deferment, or difficulty making payments sufficient to cover interest.

Prospective students should be aware of the school's completion and retention figures. The graduation rate is 9.1%, and the first-year retention rate is 61.5%, meaning that a significant portion of students do not return after their first year. These numbers suggest that most students who enroll do not ultimately earn a credential.

Median earnings ten years after enrollment are $34,421. This figure is measured across all federally-aided students who enrolled — including those who never completed a degree or certificate — so it reflects outcomes for the broader enrolled population rather than graduates specifically. Individuals researching this school should weigh this earnings figure alongside the graduation rate, loan debt levels, and repayment rate when evaluating the potential return on their investment.