Public
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Memphis, Tennessee
Southwest Tennessee Community College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$12,649Annual Cost
$34,071Grad Salary
42.3%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$4,588
Need-Based Aid
42.3% receive Pell
Southwest Tennessee Community College serves Memphis and surrounding areas with comprehensive academic and workforce programs. Established in 2000, the college offers over 100 degree and certificate programs with strengths in healthcare, business, and information technology. The 'Union Avenue Campus' features the 'Nursing, Natural Sciences and Biotechnology Building.'
Southwest's 'Promise Program' provides tuition assistance, while its 'Workforce Development' division meets industry needs. The college's 'Adult Education' programs support basic skills development. Southwest plays a vital role in regional workforce development.
Southwest Tennessee Community College Acceptance Rate
Southwest Tennessee Community College (Southwest) runs an open-access admission policy — with a 100% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Southwest Tennessee Community College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Southwest Tennessee Community College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Southwest reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (FAFSA Priority: 2026/02/01) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Check Your Admission Chances at Southwest
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Southwest Tennessee 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.
Southwest Tennessee Community College (Southwest) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Southwest is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Southwest Without SAT or ACT?
Southwest's test-score policy isn't published. As a default, submit your score only if it's at or above the state/national average — a below-average score can work against you.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Southwest
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Getting into Southwest is the easy part — what matters next is using placement testing, advising, and available resources to set up a strong first year.
Route your Nursing application specifically through the Union Avenue campus and Nursing Department, not general admissions
Southwest's highly competitive Nursing Program (Generic, LPN Mobility, and Paramedic Mobility tracks) is housed at the Union Avenue Campus with its own Nursing, Natural Sciences, and Biotechnology Building - a separate Special Admission Program application distinct from general college admission. Contact the Nursing Department directly (901-333-5425) about program-specific QPA and NLN pre-nursing exam requirements rather than assuming general admission covers you.
Take the NLN pre-nursing exam within the 5-year validity window and submit scores directly
Applicants to the Generic Nursing track must submit NLN pre-nursing examination scores from exams taken within the past five years, scheduled specifically through the Southwest Testing Center. Plan your exam timing so scores don't expire before you're ready to submit your Special Admission Program application.
If UTHSC nursing is the eventual goal, target the specific 3.0 GPA Partnership Enrollment Program (PEP) guarantee
Southwest students who complete an Associate Degree in Allied Health or General Studies plus prerequisites with a combined 3.0+ GPA are guaranteed full admission to the traditional BSN program at University of Tennessee Health Science Center through the PEP partnership - a genuine, named guaranteed-admission pathway, not a generic transfer agreement. Build your GPA target around this specific 3.0 threshold if UTHSC BSN is your endpoint.
If biotechnology interests you, reference the program's 20-year track record with regional employers
Southwest's Biotechnology Department has operated for 20 years specifically preparing work-ready graduates for a regional industry described as unable to hire fast enough. Naming this specific longevity and regional employer connection signals real program fit over generic "interest in science."
Expert Insight:
Because Southwest's general admission is open-access for degree-seeking students, applicants sometimes assume the Nursing Program follows the same low-friction path. It's the opposite: admission is described as highly competitive with a lack of clinical sites cited as a structural constraint, deadline dates must be strictly observed, and a separate Special Admission Program application (with QPA and NLN exam requirements specific to each program) is required beyond standard degree admission.
Southwest Profile
Full Name
Southwest Tennessee Community College (Southwest)
City
Memphis
State
Tennessee
ZIP Code
38134
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a Southwest Degree Worth It?
At $12,649/year against a $34,071 median graduate salary, Southwest is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $49,800, with a graduate unemployment rate of 5.23%.
How much does a degree from Southwest Cost?
The sticker price is $12,649/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is closer to $4,588.
42.3% of students receive a Pell Grant and % take federal loans at Southwest — file your FAFSA early and list Southwest as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Southwest Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $34,071 — somewhat below the U.S. median graduate income of $40,595.
Degree Programs at Southwest
Associate Degree Programs
UG Certificate or Diploma Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Southwest Admissions
Median earnings for Southwest Tennessee Community College graduates sit around $34,071 a year.
At about $12,649 a year, Southwest Tennessee Community College is on the more affordable end.
About 42.3% receive a Pell Grant at Southwest Tennessee Community College — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
Southwest Tennessee Community College follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is FAFSA Priority: 2026/02/01. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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