Clark State College vs. Southern State Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Clark State College in Springfield, OH with Southern State Community College in Hillsboro, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Clark State College is larger than Southern State Community College based on total student enrollment (5,077 students vs. 2,227 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Clark State College is located in Springfield, OH (Small City setting); Southern State Community College is in Hillsboro, OH (Rural Fringe setting).
• Clark State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southern State Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Clark State College 13:1; Southern State Community College 20:1.

Clark State College vs. Southern State Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clark State College or Southern State Community College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southern State Community College than Clark State College ($9,431 vs. $11,860).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern State Community College are 46.8% lower than at Clark State College ($6,928 vs. $13,032).
• Southern State Community College is 34.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clark State College (about $1,519 more per year; $5,912.00 vs. $4,393.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34.4% higher at Southern State Community College than at Clark State College (about $2,769 more per year; $10,818.00 vs. $8,049.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southern State Community College than at Clark State College (77% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southern State Community College students is 6.5% larger than aid received by Clark State College students ($5,513 vs. $5,177).

Clark State College vs. Southern State Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Clark State College or Southern State Community College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Southern State Community College and Clark State College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Clark State College - Open admission; Southern State Community College - Open admission.

Clark State College vs. Southern State Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Clark State College and Southern State Community College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Southern State Community College earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than Clark State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,100 vs. $30,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southern State Community College graduates have a $6,049 lower median loan debt than Clark State College graduates ($12,370 vs. $18,419).
• Among borrowers, Southern State Community College graduates have an estimated $63 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clark State College graduates ($127 vs. $190).
• More Southern State Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clark State College students, three years after graduation. (29% vs. 24%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.