South University-Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama · Private For-Profit
ROI Score: 7/100 · Poor Value
South University-Montgomery, a private for-profit in Montgomery, AL, scores 7 on the ROI index -- the lowest in this batch and among the weakest profiles in the entire dataset. Net price is $27,807 against sticker tuition of $18,145, meaning the all-in cost (with fees and living estimates) substantially exceeds tuition. Median earnings at six years are $32,500, rising only to $34,421 at 10 years -- almost no growth. The payback period is reported at 999 years, the algorithm's signal that earnings never recoup cost. The earnings premium is -0.5% (graduates earn less than a high-school-only baseline), debt-to-earnings is 0.804 against $26,123 median debt, and the completion rate is just 9.1%. The three-year repayment rate is 45.3%. Enrollment is 299, Pell rate 66%, and the school operates in a regional Alabama market. Across nearly every dimension this is a profile of a high-cost institution serving a low-income population with poor outcomes -- the kind of for-profit pattern that has drawn federal scrutiny.
The data raises concerns about South University-Montgomery
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score7/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate9.1% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers — the cost may not recoup within a working career.
South University-Montgomery
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $18,145/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $18,145/yr |
| Average net price | $27,807/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $111,228 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $34,421 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $32,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,123 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $277 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 9.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 299 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at South University-Montgomery is $18,145/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $27,807/year, or roughly $111,228 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $27,444/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $31,493/year.
The median graduate leaves with $26,123 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $277 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $34,421 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.80 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $27,444 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | N/A |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $26,220 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $31,519 |
| $110,001+ | $31,493 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
$0-$30,000 households pay $27,444 -- essentially the same as the median net price. Aid does not differentiate by income at the bottom band. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket is not reported. Low-income families paying $27K against $32,500 six-year earnings face the worst kind of for-profit math; the 9.1% completion rate compounds the risk.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
$48,001-$75,000 pays $26,220 -- the lowest reported bracket -- a mild reverse-progressive pattern. $75,001-$110,000 jumps to $31,519. The price-by-income curve is essentially flat across bands, again indicating minimal need-based aid.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $31,493 -- only marginally below the $75-110K band. Total 4-year cost exceeds $111,000. At this price for these outcomes, in-state Alabama public options outperform on every ROI dimension.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at South University-Montgomery with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $91,363 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $53,445 | F |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $46,885 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $46,322 | F |
| Public Health | $45,993 | F |
| Information Science | $58,915 | F |
| Psychology | $39,694 | F |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing has 17 graduates, $77,635 first-year earnings, $91,363 four-year earnings, $41,815 median debt, 0.539 debt-to-earnings, and a C+ ROI grade. This is the single defensible program at the school -- nursing earnings are strong, debt is high but manageable against the wage. Career paths run through Alabama hospital systems and out-of-state nursing markets where the credential travels.
Information Science
Information Science has just 3 graduates, $44,682 first-year and $58,915 four-year earnings, $52,173 median debt, a 1.168 debt-to-earnings ratio, and an F ROI grade. The debt load is roughly $25,000 above what's typical for an information-science bachelor's, the small sample makes the earnings figure unreliable, and the F grade reflects accurately. Avoid.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration has 6 graduates, $43,773 first-year earnings, $53,445 at four years, $55,162 median debt, 1.26 debt-to-earnings, and an F ROI grade. The $55K debt load on an Alabama-market business graduate is a structural mismatch. The F grade is harsh but accurate; equivalent business education at any Alabama public institution would deliver materially better ROI.
Health and Medical Administrative Services
Health and Medical Admin has 6 graduates, $39,722 first-year earnings, $46,885 at four years, $55,123 median debt, 1.388 debt-to-earnings, and an F ROI grade. Same structural problem as the business program: debt loads scaled to assumed bachelor's-level professional earnings that this market does not produce. F grade earned.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice has 4 graduates, $37,713 first-year earnings, $46,322 at four years, $55,652 median debt, 1.476 debt-to-earnings, and an F ROI grade. Criminal justice salaries in Alabama (police, corrections, court systems) cap below the debt these graduates carry. Public-college alternatives delivering the same credential at one-quarter the debt make this program impossible to justify.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 38.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 45.3% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 27.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 33.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 299 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 65.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,583 |
Admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data, typical for for-profit institutions on rolling open admission. SAT and ACT scores are also unreported. The 9.1% completion rate is the dominant signal -- only one in eleven enrolling students finishes, an outcome that should weigh heavily on any prospective student's decision. This is a completion crisis, not a selectivity story.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peer institutions include Columbia Southern University, South University-Savannah, California Aeronautical University, South University-Virginia Beach, and South University-West Palm Beach. The peer cluster is dominated by other South University campuses (Savannah, Virginia Beach, West Palm Beach) which share similar profiles, and other for-profit chains. South-Montgomery's 7 score sits at the bottom of this cluster; the other South campuses typically score in the low-teens to twenties.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| South University-Montgomery (this school) | 7 | $27,807 | $34,421 |
| National American University-Rapid City | 7 | $31,062 | $37,325 |
| American InterContinental University-Atlanta | 7 | $16,482 | $36,144 |
| South University-Virginia Beach | 7 | $27,843 | $34,421 |
| South University-Savannah Online | 7 | $28,049 | $34,421 |
| South University-Austin | 7 | $25,680 | $34,421 |
Who Thrives Here
There is no fit on conventional ROI grounds. Enrollment of 299, 66% Pell rate, and 9.1% completion describe a student population taking on substantial federal debt with low completion odds and earnings outcomes that don't clear a high-school baseline. The nursing program is the one defensible pathway. Any prospective student should consider Alabama's public community-college system or public four-year alternatives before committing federal loan capacity here.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about South University-Montgomery. With a net cost of $27,807 per year and median graduate earnings of only $34,421 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 9.1% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $26,123 against $34,421 in earnings is concerning. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76 exceeds the commonly recommended threshold. Major choice is critical here.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.