Utah school profile
Southwest Technical CollegeUSHE
Cedar City, Utah · USHE public
Compare with other schools (up to three)
What we see in the data
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.
About 55% of students are first in their family to attend college. Pell students finished on time at a lower rate (83%) than the school-wide average (95%) — see Who attends below.
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.
Pathways & Outcomes compares each school to Utah and national pathway medians using federal and state data. Numbers are school-wide averages — not every major or program. Small graduating classes may be hidden for privacy. Apprenticeships and some trade programs are not included.
Compared to Utah & national medians
Full comparison to medians among Utah colleges and colleges nationwide that report each measure in College Scorecard (not enrollment-weighted).
| Measure | This school | Utah median | US median | vs medians |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish on time | 94.9% | 71.4% | 58.3% | Above Utah · Above US |
| Typical pay (6 yrs after starting) | $38K | $34K | $36K | Above Utah · Above US |
Headline comparisons
Cost, completion, and pay — the three measures families ask about most — charted against the same medians.
Costs & aid
High school students — Iron County technical CE; school-wide completion on our profile is among the highest in the Utah dataset.
Systemwide CE attainment is documented in Part 1 (USHE R5), separate from Scorecard completion on this profile.
Who attends
Enrollment & context
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate enrollment | 540 |
| Enrolled full-time | 6.7% |
| Enrolled part-time | 93.3% |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 13.4% |
| First-generation college students | 55.5% |
| Median family income of students | $18K |
| Students who borrowed federal loans | 0.0% |
| Student–faculty ratio | 6.0:1 |
Student body shares
Shares of undergraduate students by gender and race/ethnicity (federal College Scorecard). These describe who enrolls — not completion or pay by group.
Gender
| Group | Share of undergraduates |
|---|---|
| Women | 29.3% |
| Men | 70.7% |
Race & ethnicity
| Group | Share of undergraduates |
|---|---|
| Two or more races | 2.2% |
Outcomes for Pell & first-generation students
Pell grant recipients are a proxy for lower family income; first-generation students are those whose parents did not complete a bachelor's degree. Compare each row to the school-wide figures above — not every student matches these groups.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Finish on time (Pell students) | 83.3% |
| Finish on time (all students) | 94.9% |
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 |
| Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance 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
Credentials awarded in the 2023–24 school year (federal completions survey), with typical pay and federal loan debt when Scorecard reports them. Debt can be blank when federal data suppress a program cohort; we use additional Scorecard debt fields when available.
| Field of study | Credential | Typical pay (4 yrs) | Debt | Graduates | Debt vs. pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Transportation | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | N/A | N/A | 108 | N/A |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | N/A | N/A | 106 | N/A |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $32K | N/A | 96 | N/A |
| Precision Metal Working | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $43K | N/A | 54 | N/A |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | N/A | N/A | 35 | N/A |
| Fire Protection | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | N/A | N/A | 33 | N/A |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | N/A | N/A | 33 | N/A |
| Computer Programming | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | N/A | N/A | 24 | N/A |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | N/A | N/A | 14 | N/A |
| Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | N/A | N/A | 12 | 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 |
Utah labor context for top fields
Statewide IPEDS completions vs. BLS employment by field — not job placement at this campus. Higher ratios mean more Utah graduates per related job opening.
| Field (top by graduates) | Grads here | Utah median wage (related jobs) | Utah supply ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation and materials moving | 108 | $56K | 8 graduates per 1,000 Utah jobs |
| Health professions | 106 | $62K | 162 graduates per 1,000 Utah jobs |
| Precision production | 54 | $51K | 4 graduates per 1,000 Utah jobs |
| Homeland security and law enforcement | 33 | $58K | 44 graduates per 1,000 Utah jobs |
| Computer and information sciences | 24 | $97K | 130 graduates per 1,000 Utah jobs |
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 |
What this means for you
These questions turn Southwest Technical College's public data into a next step — not a ranking or a guarantee.
- Compare this school to others on your list — averages above hide big differences between majors.
- Open the programs table for typical pay and debt in your field, not just school-wide numbers.
- Compare up to three schools side by side before you apply.
- Ask the financial aid office for net price at your family's income band — not sticker tuition.
- Ask whether students like yours typically finish on time and what they earn in your student's intended major.
- Pair typical pay with federal loan debt in the programs table — completion alone does not guarantee strong pay.
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
Pathways & Outcomes uses AI tools to help draft reports and data briefs from verified public data and analysis. A human editor reviews every publication for accuracy, data consistency, clarity, methodology alignment, and discrepancies before release. AI does not determine what we investigate, what we publish, or what conclusions we reach. Editorial policy · About our team