| Type | Publiccommunity andtechnical college |
|---|---|
Parent institution | Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system |
| Students | 4,449 (FY 2024, unduplicated headcount)[1] |
| Location | , Minnesota ,United States 44°10′27″N94°02′48″W / 44.17417°N 94.04667°W /44.17417; -94.04667 |
| Website | southcentral |
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South Central College (SCC) is apubliccommunity andtechnical college with campuses inNorth Mankato andFaribault,Minnesota. It is part of theMinnesota State Colleges and Universities system, the statewide network of public higher education institutions. Founded in 1946 and re-chartered in 2005, SCC serves a twelve-county region in southern Minnesota and offers academic transfer pathways, technical programs, workforce training, andfarm business management outreach.[1]
SCC’s North Mankato campus began in 1946 as the Mankato Vocational School, regarded as Minnesota’s first public post-secondary vocational institution. Faribault’s programs developed in the same era with practical nursing aligned to a local hospital. In 1995, following statewide consolidation under a single governing board, the two campuses were merged as South Central Technical College. In March 2005, the institution expanded its mission and adopted the nameSouth Central College, adding theAssociate of Arts degree alongside applied programs.[1]
SCC awards certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees (AA, AS, AAS) across program areas that includeagriculture, arts andinformation technology,building and design,business,health sciences, human services and education,manufacturing, and transportation. The AA provides a transfer pathway to four-year institutions, while applied programs prepare graduates for regional employment. Program offerings are available on campus and online in both traditional and hybrid formats.[2]
In Fiscal Year 2024, SCC reported an unduplicated headcount of 4,449[note 1] and a Full-Year Equivalent (FYE) of 1,860; the average student age was 23.4, and the student body was roughly evenly split by gender.[1] For the fall 2022 full-time entering cohort, 66% had graduated, transferred, or were retained to the second fall; for the fall 2021 cohort, 53% had completed or transferred by the third spring.[3]
Under federalStudent Right-to-Know reporting, SCC’s graduation rate was 39% and transfer-out rate 14%, a combined 53% (June 2025).[4] Community college enrollment in Minnesota has been rising in recent years. A 2025 report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis found that two-year public colleges across the state saw an 11.5% increase in enrollment from fall 2023 to fall 2024, a trend reflected at South Central College.[5]
South Central College isaccredited by theHigher Learning Commission.[6] Selected programs hold specialized accreditations or industry certifications, such as theCommission on Dental Accreditation for Dental Assisting; theAccreditation Commission for Education in Nursing andMinnesota Board of Nursing for Nursing; theNational Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences for Medical Laboratory Technician;ASE andI-CAR in automotive fields; and theAmerican Welding Society in welding.[1]
SCC serves a twelve-county area of southern Minnesota and operates Farm Business Management offices in multiple regional cities; customized workforce education aligns training with employer needs.[1] Beginning in Fall 2024, eligible Minnesota residents may receive last-dollar tuition support through the statewide North Star Promise scholarship program at SCC.[7]
