Public
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Phoenix, Arizona
South Mountain Community College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$17,872Annual Cost
$39,825Grad Salary
27.4%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$11,942
Need-Based Aid
27.4% receive Pell
South Mountain Community College, founded in 1980, is a public community college in Phoenix, Arizona. It offers programs in tribal leadership, music production, and fire science. The campus features a recording studio and a Native American cultural center.
SMCC is unranked but serves a diverse urban and tribal population. Its location in South Phoenix supports community-focused education.
South Mountain Community College Acceptance Rate
South Mountain Community College maintains an inclusive admission policy. With an acceptance rate of 100%, the institution prioritizes accessibility and opportunity for all qualified students.
Admissions Guidelines
- Inclusive Enrollment: Emphasis is placed on meeting basic eligibility and high school completion.
- Launchpad Policy: Ideal for students looking to build a GPA for future transfer or career certification.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
If your GPA is slightly below the institutional average, you can remain competitive by scoring well on standardized tests and showcasing leadership in co-curricular activities.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at South Mountain Community College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on South Mountain Community College's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
South Mountain Community College Test Requirements
In this competitive environment, standardized scores are no longer elective; they serve as a critical standardized benchmark to validate high school GPA and course rigor. Applicants should aim for scores within or above the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class to remain viable in the Holistic Review process. At institutions that remain test-optional, submitting a high-percentile score is still the primary strategy for securing merit-based scholarships and distinguishing one's profile in a high-volume applicant pool.
Can I Get Into South Mountain Community College Without SAT or ACT?
The admission test score (SAT/ACT) policy for South Mountain Community College is unknown. But it is better to submit the test score if you have performed well in the test. It gives an extra opportunity to showcase your skills and competencies and hence will improve your chances of admission. Normally, students may appear in the test 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. But if your score is not up to the mark and is less than the national or state average, then it is better not to submit the score as it will impact negatively.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for South Mountain Community College
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
South Mountain Community College provides an open gateway to higher education. Success here is about utilizing resources and planning your long-term academic or career trajectory.
If you're bilingual in Spanish, apply to the Bilingual Nursing Fellowship Program (BNFP) rather than a standard pre-nursing pathway - this is a genuinely rare structural feature
SMCC's BNFP is a Pre-Nursing pathway that combines standard Maricopa Nursing prerequisites with Spanish medical terminology coursework, leading toward a Certificate of Completion in Applied Bilingual Spanish Language Skills alongside your AAS - a distinct bilingual-healthcare pipeline uncommon at the community college level. If you're bilingual and considering nursing, apply to BNFP specifically (current cohort applications close a fixed date each term) rather than the general AA pathway, since it builds a credential most other applicants won't have when you later apply to Maricopa Nursing.
Complete every BNFP prerequisite and corequisite exclusively at SMCC - the program requires this, not just recommends it
SMCC states that "students accepted into the program must take all remaining courses at SMCC" for both nursing prerequisites/corequisites and the Spanish medical terminology sequence - a stricter locational requirement than most transfer-friendly community college programs. If you're accepted into BNFP, plan your full course schedule around SMCC's own offerings rather than assuming you can complete any remaining prerequisites at a different Maricopa college or elsewhere.
Understand that the AA in Community Health does not itself qualify you for RN licensure - treat it as a related but separate credential from your Maricopa Nursing application
SMCC explicitly states its Associate in Arts with an Emphasis in Community Health "does not prepare students to apply for Registered Nurse (RN) licensure after completion," even though it contains many overlapping Maricopa Nursing prerequisites. If your ultimate goal is RN licensure, confirm which specific SMCC pathway (BNFP vs. general AA) actually leads there before choosing your degree track, since the community health AA is a related but administratively distinct credential.
Clear both the HESI A2 and the Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card before submitting your Maricopa Nursing application through BNFP - these are separate, parallel requirements, not sequential ones
BNFP applicants must submit their Maricopa Nursing application "with passing scores on the HESI A2 and a Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card" as simultaneous requirements to be considered for a Block 1 seat with Phoenix College. Start the fingerprint clearance process early, since state background-check processing time can run in parallel with your HESI preparation but shouldn't be left until after you've already passed the exam.
Expert Insight:
Because SMCC's general admission is fully open and the college serves a population that is over 70% first-generation, applicants sometimes assume the bilingual nursing pathway shares that same accessibility - it is a genuinely selective admissions process with its own application window (e.g., closing a specific date each spring cohort), and completion of BNFP prerequisites does not automatically translate into Maricopa Nursing admission at Phoenix College, since that final application still requires the HESI A2 and fingerprint clearance independently.
South Mountain Community College Profile
Full Name
South Mountain Community College
City
Phoenix
State
Arizona
ZIP Code
85042
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a South Mountain Community College Degree Worth It?
Getting into South Mountain Community College can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. South Mountain Community College offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision.
Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at South Mountain Community College is $55,100 and the graduate unemployment rate is 4.18%.
How much does a degree from South Mountain Community College Cost?
The average annual cost of the degree at South Mountain Community College is $17,872. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at South Mountain Community College is $11,942.
27.4% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 6.9 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to South Mountain Community College and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.
At South Mountain Community College, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist South Mountain Community College as your choice in the form.
How much does a South Mountain Community College Graduate earn?
The average annual salary of the graduate after 4–6 years of graduation is $39,825. An average South Mountain Community College graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4–6 years after graduation).
The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is $40,595.
Degree Programs at South Mountain Community College
Associate Degree Programs
Full list of all degree programs offered by South Mountain Community College →
Frequently Asked Questions About South Mountain Community College Admissions
Graduates of this university typically earn a lower salary, $39,825 annually, especially in non-technical fields.
The tuition fee at this university is relatively low, around $17,872 per year, making it more affordable for many students.
27.4% of students receive a Pell Grant at this institution. Your chances of need-based aid are moderate and depend primarily on your household income. Filing FAFSA early significantly improves your chances of receiving the maximum available grant amount.
Yes, many students successfully transfer each year. Be prepared with your academic transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement to make your application competitive.
To improve your chances, focus on excelling academically, building a strong extracurricular profile, and submitting standout essays. High SAT/ACT scores are also crucial for competitive admissions.