Southwest Tennessee Community College

5983 Macon Cove
Memphis, TN 38134
Top Ranked (2025): View Rankings
  • Southwest has an outstanding and highly dedicated faculty and staff who are committed to your success. Our mission is to anticipate and respond to the educational needs of students, employers, and communities within our service area. We strive to provide an effective teaching and learning environment designed to raise educational levels, enhance economic development, and enrich personal lives. As a comprehensive, open-access, culturally diverse, public two-year college, Southwest is committed to meeting the educational needs of individual students, communities, and employers through credit and non-credit instruction using both distance learning technology and traditional campus-based classes. Southwest promotes student success in a supportive teaching and learning environment designed to raise educational levels, promote work readiness skills, enhance career advancement, prepare for university transfer, and enrich personal lives.

School Highlights

Southwest Tennessee Community College serves 9,346 students (35% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 12:1 is lower than the state community college average of 18:1.
Minority enrollment is 79% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the state average of 45%.

Quick Stats (2025)

  • Enrollment: 9,346 students
  • In-state tuition: $3,843
  • Out-state tuition: $14,907
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Student:teacher ratio: 12:1
  • Minority enrollment: 79%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Top Rankings

Southwest Tennessee Community College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Tennessee for:

Category
Attribute
Community Size

School Overview

The teacher population of 788 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Southwest Tennessee Community College
(TN) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
Not applicable, not in Carnegie universe (not accredited or nondegree-granting)
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
788 staff
81 staff
This chart displays total faculty of Southwest Tennessee Community College and community college average number of faculty in Tennessee by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Student Body

The student population of Southwest Tennessee Community College has stayed relatively flat over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 12:1 has increased from 9:1 over five years.
The Southwest Tennessee Community College diversity score of 0.56 is less than the state average of 0.65. The school's diversity has grown by 6% over five years.
Total Enrollment
9,346 students
605 students
This chart displays the total enrollment of Southwest Tennessee Community College and community college average number of enrollment of Tennessee by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
12:1
18:1
This chart displays the student staff ratio of Southwest Tennessee Community College and community college average student staff ratio of Tennessee by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
# Full-Time Students
3,273 students
400 students
This chart displays the total number of Full-time students enrollment of Southwest Tennessee Community College and average number of community college Full-time students enrollment of Tennessee by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
# Part-Time Students
6,073 students
230 students
This chart displays the total number of Part-time students enrollment of Southwest Tennessee Community College and average number of community college Part-time students enrollment of Tennessee by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
This chart displays the Full-time students and Part-time students enrollment breakdown of Southwest Tennessee Community College.
This chart displays community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of Tennessee.
# Enrollment Undergraduate
934 students
504 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
3,273 students
400 students
This chart displays the total number of Full-time undergraduate students enrollment of Southwest Tennessee Community College and average number of community college Full-time undergraduate  students enrollment of Tennessee by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
12 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
6,073 students
335 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
12 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
195 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
n/a
n/a
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan students in Southwest Tennessee Community College and the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan community college students in Tennessee by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
% Asian
2%
4%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Southwest Tennessee Community College and the percentage of Asian community college students in Tennessee by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hispanic
9%
6%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Southwest Tennessee Community College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in Tennessee by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
% Black
62%
19%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Southwest Tennessee Community College and the percentage of Black community college students in Tennessee by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% White
21%
55%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Southwest Tennessee Community College and the percentage of White community college students in Tennessee by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hawaiian
2%
9%
This chart displays the percentage of Hawaiian students in Southwest Tennessee Community College and the percentage of Hawaiian community college students in Tennessee by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
% Two or more races
2%
3%
This chart displays the percentage of Two or more races students in Southwest Tennessee Community College and the percentage of Two or more races community college students in Tennessee by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Non Resident races
1%
1%
This chart displays the percentage of Non Resident students in Southwest Tennessee Community College and the percentage of Non Resident community college students in Tennessee by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
% Unknown races
1%
3%
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Southwest Tennessee Community College.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Tennessee.
Diversity Score
0.56
0.65
This chart displays the diversity score of Southwest Tennessee Community College and the community college average diversity score of Tennessee by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
0.1454%
0.6038%
This chart displays completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Southwest Tennessee Community College and community college average completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Tennessee by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
0.5213%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$28,300
$29,000
This chart displays average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Southwest Tennessee Community College and community college average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Tennessee by year, disaggregated by student subgroups with the latest 2012-13 school year data.

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $3,843 is less than the state average of $5,176. The in-state tuition has declined by 14% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $14,907 is less than the state average of $15,746. The out-state tuition has declined by 11% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$3,843
$5,176
This chart displays tuition fees for an in-state student of Southwest Tennessee Community College and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of Tennessee by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
Out-State Tuition Fees
$14,907
$15,746
This chart displays tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Southwest Tennessee Community College and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Tennessee by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
89%
97%
This chart displays the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in Southwest Tennessee Community College and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in Tennessee by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates
n/a
$11,730
Median Debt for Dropouts
n/a
$5,250
Acceptance Rate
100%
83%
This chart displays the percent admitted of Southwest Tennessee Community College and the community college average percent admitted of Tennessee by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
SAT Total Avg.
417
455
SAT Reading (Year 2012)
430
455
SAT Math
417
455
This chart displays the SAT Math score of Southwest Tennessee Community College and the community college average SAT Math score of Tennessee by year, with the latest 2012-13 school year data.
SAT Writing
n/a
469
ACT Total Avg.
48
58
ACT Composite
16
20
This chart displays the ACT Composite score of Southwest Tennessee Community College and the community college average ACT Composite score of Tennessee by year, with the latest 2012-13 school year data.
ACT English
16
19
This chart displays the ACT English score of Southwest Tennessee Community College and the community college average ACT English score of Tennessee by year, with the latest 2012-13 school year data.
ACT Math
16
19
This chart displays the ACT Math score of Southwest Tennessee Community College and the community college average ACT Math score of Tennessee by year, with the latest 2012-13 school year data.
Source: 2024 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

School Notes

  • Southwest Tennessee Community College has a number of Campuses, Centers, and Sites to make getting your degree more convenient. The Macon Cove Campus at 5983 Macon Cove, Memphis, TN, 38134, is right off the I-40 and I-240 expressways in the eastern part of the city. Southwest's intensive technology programs are based at Macon Cove. Through multiple partnerships, alliances, licensing and certification programs, service grants, and extensive computer training facilities, Southwest has forged strong, mutually supportive ties to business and industry in the metropolitan area. Macon's 100-acre campus offers a suburban ambiance, enhanced by a quiet lake that provides year-round habitat to flocks of ducks and other waterfowl. The College Offers Associate of Applied Science, Associate of Arts, and Associate of Science degrees, academic and technical certificate programs, and courses that prepare students for transfer, employment, and career advancement in areas that include allied health sciences, nursing, business, computer technologies, criminal justice, education, and engineering and related technologies, while continually developing new programs in emerging fields. Southwest is accredited to award associate degrees by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Southwest Tennessee Community College cost?
Southwest Tennessee Community College's tuition is approximately $3,843 for In-State students and $14,907 for Out-State students.
What is the acceptance rate of Southwest Tennessee Community College?
The acceptance rate of Southwest Tennessee Community College is 100%, which is higher than the state average of 83%.
What is Southwest Tennessee Community College's ranking?
Southwest Tennessee Community College ranks among the top 20% of community college in Tennessee for: Largest student body.
In what neighborhood is Southwest Tennessee Community College located?
Southwest Tennessee Community College is located in the Medical District neighborhood of Memphis, TN. There are 1 other community '.college.' located in Medical District.

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • Enrollment: 9,346 students
  • In-state tuition: $3,843
  • Out-state tuition: $14,907
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Student:teacher ratio: 12:1
  • Minority enrollment: 79%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

Shelby County, TN community colleges have a diversity score of 0.55, which is higher than the national average of 0.00. The most diverse community college in Shelby County, TN is Concorde Career College-Memphis. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

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