Do Students Succeed at Southwest Texas College?
Discover how students at Southwest Texas College progress — from enrollment through completion, transfer, and beyond.
Student Success at Southwest Texas College at a Glance
Southwest Texas College is a public institution offering at least 2 but less than 4 years programs located in Uvalde, TX. Current enrollment is 6,525 students.
- 30.5% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 31.1% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 76% of exiters from its largest program (Professional Truck Driver Training) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $13,568 per quarter after exiting Professional Truck Driver Training
- 1,229 graduates across 51 programs in 2024
- VA-approved for GI Bill benefits — 131 students used them here
Program-Level Results · Verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
Verified Program Outcomes
Completion and employment results reported to the U.S. Department of Labor for Southwest Texas College programs on the state Eligible Training Provider List. Missing values ("—") mean the state suppressed or did not report that metric — they never mean zero.
| Program | Completion rate | Employed 6 mo after exit | Employed 1 yr after exit | Median quarterly earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Truck Driver Training | 93% | 76% | 73% | $13,568 |
| Basic Peace Officer | 79% | 81% | 83% | $10,699 |
| Welding Technology Level 1 Certificate | 60% | 54% | 60% | $5,820 |
| Criminal Justice AAS | 6% | 65% | 67% | $4,792 |
| Child Development AAS | 12% | 60% | 71% | $4,775 |
| Clinical Medical Assistant | 97% | 79% | 77% | $5,880 |
| Truck Driving for Electrical Lineman | 99% | 92% | 93% | $13,148 |
| Computer Information System AAS | 5% | 56% | 62% | $6,845 |
| Management AAS | 4% | 63% | 73% | $5,671 |
| Wildlife Management AAS | 26% | 44% | 57% | $3,511 |
| Patient Care Technician | 55% | 75% | 67% | $5,786 |
| ADN Program/Nursing | 77% | 83% | 77% | $15,479 |
| Vocational Nursing | 81% | 78% | 81% | $9,732 |
| Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology Level 1 Certificate | 79% | 67% | 72% | $5,814 |
| Phlebotomy Technician | 97% | 81% | 100% | $5,611 |
| Powerline Technician Program | 83% | 89% | 88% | $12,817 |
| Child Development Associate | 98% | 73% | 60% | $3,879 |
| Emergency Medical Technician Basic | 67% | 64% | 73% | $6,453 |
| Welding Technology Level 2 Certificate | 39% | 59% | 62% | $5,606 |
| Aminstrative Information Technology Level 1 Certificate | 8% | 53% | 46% | $6,110 |
| Airframe Mechanics | 55% | 45% | 47% | $4,089 |
| Welding Technology AAS | 16% | 57% | 53% | $2,916 |
| Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology Level 2 Certificate | 56% | 77% | 69% | $7,588 |
| Administrative Information Technology AAS | 13% | 50% | 51% | $5,954 |
| Automotive Technology Level 2 Certificate | 44% | 58% | 56% | $6,589 |
| Diesel Technology Level 2 Certificate | 59% | 81% | 80% | $7,067 |
| Nurse Aide for Health Care | 68% | 67% | — | $4,414 |
| Radiologic Technology AAS | 80% | 100% | 100% | $14,377 |
| Air Conditioning AAS | 19% | 57% | 76% | $6,033 |
| Diesel Technology AAS | — | 42% | 57% | $3,173 |
| Pharmacy Technician | 96% | 76% | 72% | $6,702 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, WIOA participant outcomes (trainingproviderresults.gov), PY 2023.
College-Wide Statistics · IPEDS Federal Survey
What Are the Student Outcomes at Southwest Texas College?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at Southwest Texas College, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
31.1%
Working Student Success
29.6%
Transfer Out Rate
20.8%
Still Enrolled Rate
1%
How Southwest Texas College Compares
Southwest Texas College's 31% completion rate is right in the typical band for trade and vocational schools — most peer institutions land somewhere in the 30–50% range. Another 21% transfer out and 1% remain enrolled; these together usually account for the bulk of the cohort, with only a smaller share leaving without a clear next step.
What Happens After Students Enroll at Southwest Texas College?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered Southwest Texas College. This shows what happened to students in their cohort by the end of the tracking period.
Understanding These Outcomes
Completed: Students who earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from this institution.
Still Enrolled: Students who remain enrolled at this institution after the tracking period.
Transferred Out: Students who transferred to another institution and may have completed there.
No Award: Students who left without earning a credential and are not enrolled elsewhere.
Combined completion and transfer rate of 50.9% indicates strong student success pathways.
These outcomes track what happened to students eight years after they first enrolled. Completion rates include certificates, diplomas, and degrees earned at this institution. Transfer rates show students who continued their education at other colleges. Understanding these pathways helps prospective students set realistic expectations and plan their educational journey.
What Are the Transfer and Continuation Patterns at Southwest Texas College?
Success Rates by Student Entry Pathway
Comparing completion rates across different student entry pathways helps understand which groups succeed and how transfer experience impacts outcomes.
Key Insights
First-time and transfer students achieve similar completion rates, indicating equitable support regardless of entry pathway.
Combined 20.5% transfer-out rate suggests this institution may serve as a stepping stone for students continuing their education elsewhere.
Cohort Composition
Understanding Student Pathways
First-Time Students: Beginning postsecondary education for the first time at this institution.
Transfer-In Students: Previously attended another postsecondary institution before enrolling here.
Continuing Students: Returned to this institution after a break in enrollment.
Completion rates tracked over 8 years from initial entry.
Different student entry pathways lead to varying success rates. First-time students enter directly from high school or are starting college for the first time. Transfer students bring prior college experience and credits. Understanding these patterns helps you identify which pathway aligns best with your situation and predict your likelihood of success.
What Are the Completion Rates by Student Type at Southwest Texas College?
What does this mean for you? These completion rates show how different types of students succeed at this institution. Full-time students have a higher completion rate (32.8%) compared to part-time students (29.6%). Consider your work and life commitments when deciding on your enrollment status. First-time students are those new to college, while transfer students have attended another institution before.
What Are the Cohort Outcomes Over Time at Southwest Texas College?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 2,350 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
Part-time First-time Students
All First-time Transfer Students
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
Part-time First-time Transfer Students
All First-time Students
Full-time First-time Students
All Full-time Students
All Part-time Students
Time to Completion
About This Data
Outcome measures data tracks student cohorts over 4, 6, and 8-year periods. Data is sourced from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and reflects the most recent available reporting year.