Southwest Technical CollegeUSHE
Cedar City, Utah · USHE public · School-wide averages from federal college data.
Numbers on this page are school-wide averages from federal and state data. They do not describe every major or program. Small graduating classes may be hidden for privacy. Apprenticeships and some trade programs are not included.
At Southwest Technical College, about 540 undergraduate students are enrolled. See the tables below for more cost and aid detail.
Finish on time means completing within the normal time frame for the degree (for example, one and a half years for a one-year certificate). About 95% of students finished on time, higher than the median among USHE technical colleges in Utah (79%), and higher than the median among colleges nationwide (58%).
Typical pay six years after starting was about $38K, about the same as the median among USHE technical colleges in Utah ($38K), and higher than the median among colleges nationwide ($36K). Pay varies widely by field of study. This is a school-wide average.
Utah payroll records show typical pay of about $44K one year after finishing, higher than the $38K school-wide figure measured six years after starting. About 75% of certificate graduates had a job in Utah one year after finishing.
Who attends
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate enrollment | 540 |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 13.4% |
| Student–faculty ratio | 6.0:1 |
After graduation: jobs and pay
For Utah public colleges, the state tracks graduates who work in Utah using payroll records employers file with the Department of Workforce Services. The U.S. Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) study links college transcripts to jobs nationwide. Utah sections show in-state pay and employment; Census sections show national pay, how many graduates stay in Utah, and common industries. Groups with fewer than 10 graduates are hidden for privacy.
Working in Utah (state data)
Pay and employment for graduates found in Utah wage records. Wage figures include only graduates with reported earnings. USHE dashboard.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Typical annual pay (1 year after graduating, Utah only) | $44,300 |
| Lower end (25th percentile) | $32,619 |
| Higher end (75th percentile) | $60,733 |
| Program groups counted | 79 |
Share of graduates employed in Utah about one year after finishing (Utah payroll records; excludes federal employers and graduates who left the state).
| Credential type | Share employed in Utah |
|---|---|
| Certificate · about 1 year after graduating | 75.1% |
How pay changes after graduating (Utah)
Change in annual wages from one year before graduation to one or five years after, for graduates working in Utah. Shown by broad program area. Graduating class: 2023-24 Graduated.
| Program area | Pay change |
|---|---|
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting | $30,304 (1 yr) |
| Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians | $13,336 (1 yr) · $28,063 (5 yr) |
| Health Professions and Related Programs | $15,564 (1 yr) · $23,451 (5 yr) |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $4,406 (1 yr) · $22,773 (5 yr) |
| Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services | $11,062 (1 yr) · $20,597 (5 yr) |
| Precision Production | $9,789 (1 yr) · $18,946 (5 yr) |
| Transportation and Materials Moving | $11,497 (1 yr) · $14,575 (5 yr) |
| Business, Management, and Marketing | $13,853 (5 yr) |
Where graduates work in Utah
Industry sectors for Utah-employed graduates (payroll records). Counts combine all program areas at this college.
| Industry | Graduates employed |
|---|---|
| Retail Trade | 17 (17.0%) |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 17 (17.0%) |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 14 (14.0%) |
| Manufacturing | 13 (13.0%) |
| Construction | 9 (9.0%) |
| Public Administration | 8 (8.0%) |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 8 (8.0%) |
| Wholesale Trade | 6 (6.0%) |
Jobs and pay nationwide (U.S. Census)
Transcript-linked earnings and employment across the country. Census PSEO.
| Credential type | Typical pay & graduates with jobs |
|---|---|
| Certificate (<1 year) | $33,008 after 1 yr · $40,680 after 5 yrs · 1,330 with jobs |
| Certificate (1–2 years) | $34,840 after 1 yr · $39,731 after 5 yrs · 356 with jobs |
| Credential type | Staying in Utah (1 year after finishing) |
|---|---|
| Certificate (<1 year) | 86.3% stayed in Utah · 1,229 with jobs nationwide (1 yr after finishing) |
| Certificate (1–2 years) | 59.9% stayed in Utah · 384 with jobs nationwide (1 yr after finishing) |
Most common industries where graduates work, about one year after finishing (all credential types combined).
| Industry | Graduates with jobs (share) |
|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 442 (27.4%) |
| Agriculture | 219 (13.6%) |
| Transportation and warehousing | 172 (10.7%) |
| Retail trade | 138 (8.6%) |
| Accommodation and food services | 98 (6.1%) |
| Construction | 97 (6.0%) |
| Manufacturing | 96 (5.9%) |
| Public administration | 74 (4.6%) |
Program areas with the most graduates and reported first-year pay.
| Program area | Typical pay after 1 year |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $25,382 · 578 with jobs |
| Ground Transportation | $42,755 · 363 with jobs |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $37,558 · 235 with jobs |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $31,371 · 98 with jobs |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $39,975 · 76 with jobs |
| Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | $33,861 · 70 with jobs |
| Precision Metal Working | $33,189 · 63 with jobs |
| Precision Metal Working | $41,244 · 53 with jobs |
Credential-type rows use federal award categories. Compare them within this school, not across different colleges.
Top programs by completions
Typical pay four years after finishing, federal loan debt, and how many students completed each field of study. Rows with too few students are omitted for privacy.
| Field of study | Credential | Typical pay (4 yrs) | Debt | Graduates | Debt vs. pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precision Metal Working | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $43K | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $32K | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Animal Sciences | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Computer Programming | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Fire Protection | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Ground Transportation | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Accounting and Related Services | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Completions by award level
1,076 Credentials awarded in the 2023–24 school year (federal completions survey).
| Award level | Completions |
|---|---|
| Award level 20 | 610 |
| Other award | 404 |
| Certificate (1–2 yr) | 62 |
Institution finances
Endowment, state tax support (public colleges), and Parent PLUS loans. Endowment values come from IPEDS via College Scorecard. Many small schools do not report them.
State support (FY 2024)
State tax appropriations from Transparent Utah: what Utah lawmakers budgeted for this public college, not the full operating budget.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| State tax appropriation | $9.2M |
| Budget full-time students (FTE) | 426 |
| Appropriation per FTE | $22K |
| Appropriation per credential awarded | $9K |
Institution facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Highest degree offered | Certificate |
| Predominant award | Predominantly certificate |
| Accreditor | Council on Occupational Education |
| Campus setting | Town, remote |
| Address | 757 West 800 South, 84720 |
Related Utah research
- Part 3: Early-Career Earnings by Utah Pathway Type
- Part 4: Where Utah Students Start
- Part 5: Net Price Reality for Utah Families
- Part 7: Completion Rates Across Utah Institutions
- Part 8: Student Debt vs. Early Earnings
Data sources
- U.S. College Scorecard (school-wide outcomes)
- IPEDS directory (2023–24)
- IPEDS tuition and costs (2023–24)
- IPEDS completions (2023–24 award year)
- Transparent Utah appropriations (USHE)
- USHE Graduate Workforce Outcomes dashboard
- USHE graduate workforce outcomes, wage growth (Utah)
- USHE graduate workforce outcomes, industries (Utah)
- Census LEHD Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO)
Methodology · UNITID 449816