Southwest Tennessee Community College

Overview

Southwest Tennessee Community College (Southwest) is a comprehensive, multicultural, public, open-access college in Memphis, Tennessee, providing post-secondary academies and a range of associate degree programs. Established in 2000 through a merger between Shelby State Community College and State Technical Institute at Memphis, Southwest operates multiple campuses and centers across the city with a centrally situated Union Avenue Campus noted for its modern facilities. The college's academic profile features a variety of popular programs in fields such as allied health, business, and technology, facilitating both career training and transfer pathways to four-year institutions. While the college maintains a nonresidential campus environment, it effectively serves a diverse student body commuting from the greater Memphis area. Southwest's application process is characterized by an open admissions policy, aiming to make higher education accessible to the broader community.

  2,547 students are enrolled on a full time basis, and 3,896 attend part time. In-state tuition for 2022/2023, excluding room and board, is $4,104 plus fees of $326.

Southwest Tennessee Community College is designated as a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) and receives federal grants supporting the school's efforts to serve low and middle-income Black Americans.