Public
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
McAllen, Texas
South Texas College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$7,505Annual Cost
$36,788Grad Salary
35.9%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
$1,291
Need-Based Aid
35.9% receive Pell
South Texas College TX South Texas College is nationally recognized for expanding access to higher education and workforce training in South Texas. The institution offers associate and bachelor's degree programs, technical certifications, and dual-enrollment opportunities for high school students.\n\nStudents seeking affordable education with strong career outcomes often choose South Texas College. Programs in healthcare, business, technology, and public service are closely aligned with regional workforce demands, helping graduates transition efficiently into employment or further education.
South Texas College Acceptance Rate
South Texas College (South Texas Community College) 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).
South Texas College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
South Texas 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
South Texas Community College 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 (Foundation scholarships vary by award cycle) 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 South Texas Community College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on South Texas 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 Texas College (South Texas Community College) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if South Texas Community College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into South Texas Community College Without SAT or ACT?
South Texas Community College'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 South Texas Community College
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Getting into South Texas Community College is the easy part — what matters next is using placement testing, advising, and available resources to set up a strong first year.
STC 2 UTRGV Is a Guaranteed Admission Pathway - Activate It When You Apply to STC, Not After You've Already Enrolled
South Texas College and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley formalized the STC 2 UTRGV Joint Admission Program, which provides guaranteed admission to UTRGV for STC students who complete a minimum of 24 credit hours with a 2.0 GPA. The program works in two directions: students who apply to UTRGV and are not yet admission-eligible can be offered joint admission and directed to begin at STC, or students who apply to STC can self-select the STC 2 UTRGV option during their STC application. In both cases, the student submits a single combined application to both institutions. While at STC, students in the joint admission program must meet college readiness standards by earning 30?60 credit hours and maintaining a 2.0 GPA, and must attend a UTRGV orientation for their intended transfer term. UTRGV reports that over 1,300 students annually apply to the university but do not receive admission due to college readiness standards - this program eliminates that barrier. Students who know UTRGV is their eventual destination should select the STC 2 UTRGV option at the start of their STC application, not as an afterthought after completing two semesters.
Selective Health Sciences Programs Have Specific Deadlines That Run Months Before the General Enrollment Window - Apply as Early as Possible
STC's open admissions applies to general enrollment only. The Nursing (ADN) program closes its application on June 16 and October 27 respectively for its two annual cohorts; the Physical Therapy Assistant program (60-credit, CAPTE-accredited, 100% licensure exam pass rate) closes July 10 for its fall-only annual cohort; the EMT Paramedic to RN Track closes June 25; and the EMT-Basic program requires students to be at least 18 years old with EMT-Basic certification before applying. Students who wait for the general August 1 enrollment deadline to apply to any of these programs discover those windows closed months earlier. The RN-to-BSN program - an online bachelor's degree completion program for active Texas RNs - requires a minimum 2.75 GPA and an active unencumbered Texas RN license. The STC Transfer Opportunities page lists articulation agreements with Georgetown University specifically for ADN-to-nursing-bachelor's transitions, among over 30 UTRGV agreements and 150 total university partnerships.
STC's Bachelor's Degrees Are Competency-Based Seven-Week Minimesters - Designed for Working Students, Not the Traditional Semester Calendar
South Texas College offers bachelor's degrees in Technology Management (B.A.T., fully online) and Computer and Information Technology (B.A.T., fully online) using a flat-tuition, seven-week minimester format. Students pay one flat rate per minimester and can complete as many courses as they are able during that term - most complete two to three, accelerating time to degree significantly compared to a traditional semester calendar. The curriculum is competency-based and SACSCOC-accredited, meaning the credential carries full regional accreditation. These bachelor's degrees are not transfer pathways; they are degrees earned entirely at STC. STC also offers incoming transfer pathways into these programs from partner institutions including Purdue University?Fort Wayne articulation pathways. For working adults in the Rio Grande Valley who want a bachelor's degree in a technology field without interrupting employment or relocating, this is a structurally unique and financially accessible option: in-district tuition at STC is among the lowest in Texas.
Course-Level Articulation With UTRGV Is More Specific Than General Transfer Credit - Individual Courses Within the Core Can Create Hidden Gaps
STC has over 30 articulation agreements with UTRGV and a reverse articulation process that ensures all STC credits count toward a UTRGV bachelor's degree. However, course-specific gaps can appear even within the core curriculum. STC's official FAQ gives a concrete example: a Criminal Justice major at UTRGV requires a math course other than MATH 1332, but MATH 1332 can be used to fulfill STC's core math requirement. A student who took MATH 1332 at STC, had it accepted toward the UTRGV core transfer, and then enrolled in UTRGV Criminal Justice would still need to take an additional math course not originally in their plan. The solution is to identify the target UTRGV major in the first semester at STC, pull the specific major requirements from UTRGV's catalog, and verify every core course selection against those requirements - not just against STC's general core list. The STC Transfer Center at Pecan Campus H105 can walk through this course-by-course alignment.
Expert Insight:
The most common planning failure at STC is the student who enrolls in the ADN nursing program track - completing two semesters of prerequisites with strong grades - and misses the June 16 or October 27 program application deadlines because they assumed the rolling general admissions window applied to nursing. The program's limited cohort sizes mean that missing a deadline typically means waiting an entire academic cycle, adding six months to a year to the nursing credential timeline. A second, newer planning failure: students who enroll in the STC 2 UTRGV joint admission pathway, complete 30 hours, and then attempt to transfer into a UTRGV program with additional admissions requirements (Education, some health sciences) without realizing that guaranteed admission to UTRGV does not guarantee admission to a specific program within UTRGV. "It is possible to be admitted to UTRGV but not get admittance into programs with admissions requirements" - this is documented on STC's own Transfer FAQs page and is the point where advising intervention is most critical.
South Texas Community College Profile
Full Name
South Texas College (South Texas Community College)
City
McAllen
State
Texas
ZIP Code
78501
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a South Texas Community College Degree Worth It?
At $7,505/year against a $36,788 median graduate salary, South Texas Community College 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 $33,400, with a graduate unemployment rate of 6.87%.
How much does a degree from South Texas Community College Cost?
The sticker price is $7,505/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is closer to $1,291.
35.9% of students receive a Pell Grant and % take federal loans at South Texas Community College — file your FAFSA early and list South Texas Community College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a South Texas Community College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $36,788 — somewhat below the U.S. median graduate income of $40,595.
Degree Programs at South Texas Community College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Associate Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About South Texas Community College Admissions
Median earnings for South Texas College graduates sit around $36,788 a year.
At about $7,505 a year, South Texas College is on the more affordable end.
About 35.9% receive a Pell Grant at South Texas College — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
South Texas College follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is Foundation scholarships vary by award cycle. 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.