Covering Innovation & Inequality in Education
This year at Sonoran Desert Institute, we project that on average students will pay $20,348, while the advertised price of attendance is $26,432. That’s a difference of $6,084.
| Year | Net in-state price at Sonoran Desert Institute | In-state sticker price at Sonoran Desert Institute |
|---|---|---|
| 23-24 | $20,348 | $26,432 |
| 22-23 | $19,141 | $24,864 |
| 21-22 | $16,825 | $22,294 |
| 20-21 | $16,692 | $21,750 |
| 19-20 | $14,767 | $20,136 |
| 18-19 | $14,446 | $19,592 |
| 17-18 | $13,038 | $18,151 |
| 16-17 | $12,615 | $18,042 |
How much a student actually pays usually depends, at least in part, on their family's household income. At Sonoran Desert Institute this year, we project students with incomes over $110K will pay around $25,292, while students with incomes below $30K will pay around $20,258. That's a difference of $5,035.
| Income bracket | Projected net price at Sonoran Desert Institute |
|---|---|
| <$30K | $20,258 |
| $30K-$48K | $21,168 |
| $48K-$75K | $21,826 |
| $75K-$110K | $24,487 |
| >$110K | $25,292 |
A school’s graduation rate can indicate how likely a student is to complete their degree. At Sonoran Desert Institute, over the last five years 48% of students earned their associate’s degree within four years of enrolling.
Students from different demographic backgrounds often graduate at different rates, so it can be helpful to look beyond the overall graduation rate. This chart shows how students of different races and ethnicities fare earning their degrees at Sonoran Desert Institute.
| Demographic category | Graduation rate at Sonoran Desert Institute | National average |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 16% | 24% |
| Asian | 20% | 38% |
| Black | 30% | 26% |
| Hispanic | 40% | 34% |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 56% | 21% |
| White | 51% | 41% |
| Multiple races | 50% | 29% |
| Unknown race | 53% | 29% |
Student retention, or how often students return to continue their degree after completing their first year, is another helpful indicator. Over the last five years, at Sonoran Desert Institute, about 62% of full-time students returned the following fall to continue their degree.
The size and demographic makeup of a school’s student body can have a large impact on a student’s experience. Sonoran Desert Institute has 6,958 students, which puts it in the {SIZE_PERCENTILE} percentile of for-profit, 2-year schools.
About 98% of students are male.
And about 72% of students are white.