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Texas Southmost College

Brownsville, Texas · Public community college

Construction trades programsAuto mechanic schoolsLPN / LVN programsRadiology & sonography programsHVAC schoolsEMT & paramedic training
30%completion rate · Texas avg 64%
$9,000median debt of graduates
$33,992median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$41,900median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
not reportedannual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (Accredited)
Address: 80 Fort Brown, Brownsville, TX 78520 · Phone: (956) 295-3600 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Sanctions are probation, warning, show-cause and loss-of-accreditation actions by any recognized accreditor, including program-specific accreditors (a nursing-program probation counts for the campus). Routine monitoring reviews and voluntary withdrawals are not counted. Ask the school what the action concerned and how it was resolved.

Texas Southmost College is a public trade school in Brownsville, Texas offering construction trades, auto mechanics, and LPN/LVN programs, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Texas Southmost College has a 29.8% completion rate versus a 63.5% state average, with graduates carrying a median debt of $9,000 and median earnings of $41,900 ten years after entry.

Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; the school does participate in federal financial aid (Title IV), and 28.4% of students receive Pell Grants.

Completion rate vs. benchmarks
Texas Southmost Colle… Texas Southmost Colle…: 29.8% 29.8% Texas average Texas average: 63.5% 63.5% National average National average: 62.1% 62.1%

What these trades pay once you're working

OccupationStarting (10th pct)MedianExperienced (75th)
Construction laborers$32,560$40,620$46,950
Automotive service technicians and mechanics$29,360$48,310$62,270
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses$48,910$62,240$68,410
Radiologic technologists and technicians$48,550$78,630$93,830
HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers$38,100$57,760$69,860
Emergency medical technicians$30,320$37,260$44,240

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Texas (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.

Trade programs at this campus

ProgramCredentialGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Earnings, yr 2Median debt
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection Certificate, 300–899 hours 26 not reported not reported not reported
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate, 1–2 years 22 not reported $44,091 $5,500
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 11 not reported not reported not reported
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection Associate degree 9 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 300–899 hours 9 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 8 $47,227 $42,185 $11,125
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 300–899 hours 8 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 7 $47,227 $42,185 $11,125
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection Associate degree 7 not reported not reported not reported
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) Associate degree 7 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 6 $47,227 $42,185 $11,125
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) Certificate, 300–899 hours 2 not reported not reported not reported

Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.

Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.

Visit the school's website ↗

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About this school

Texas Southmost College is a public trade and career-training campus in Brownsville, Texas, located in a midsize city setting. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and participates in federal financial aid programs (Title IV), meaning students can use FAFSA, federal loans, and Pell Grants. Across its 12 program families, the campus awards the most credentials in construction trades programs (42), auto mechanic schools (28), and LPN/LVN programs (22).

According to federal data, the campus completion rate is 29.8%, which is below the state average of 63.5%. Graduates carry a median debt of $9,000, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $41,900. About 28.4% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a meaningful share of low-income enrollment. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.

With 3,372 undergraduates enrolled and 122 trade completers reported, this campus offers a mix of shorter career-training programs and possibly longer associate-level tracks, though exact program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data. Career changers or adult students considering programs like construction trades, auto mechanics, or practical nursing should weigh the below-average completion rate against the relatively low median debt. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status directly with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and review the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard for the most up-to-date federal outcome figures before enrolling.

Questions students ask

What trade and career programs does this campus offer?

Texas Southmost College offers 12 program families including construction trades, auto mechanics, LPN/LVN, radiology tech, HVAC, and EMT training. The top programs by completions are construction trades (42), auto mechanics (28), and LPN/LVN (22).

Is this school accredited, and by whom?

Yes, the school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and its accreditation status is listed as accredited.

Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?

Yes, this campus participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used. About 28.4% of students receive Pell Grants.

What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?

The completion rate is 29.8%, which is below the Texas state average of 63.5%, per the College Scorecard.

How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?

Graduates carry a median debt of $9,000 according to federal data.

What do graduates of this school earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entry are $41,900, per the College Scorecard.

How much does it cost to attend for a year?

Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (956) 295-3600 or visit https://www.tsc.edu/ for current tuition.

Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?

Texas Southmost College is a public institution, which often correlates with lower tuition costs and eligibility for state-supported financial aid programs.

How long do the programs here take to complete?

Program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly to confirm program schedules and durations.

How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?

You can verify accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and review detailed outcome data at the College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?227377.

Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?

The data does not specify program formats or schedules for adult learners; contact the school to discuss whether program lengths and formats fit career-changer needs.

What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?

Licensing or certification requirements are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school for details on specific program credentialing.

How do I contact the school or apply?

You can reach Texas Southmost College at (956) 295-3600 or through its website at https://www.tsc.edu/.

How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?

Comparative data with other nearby schools is not reported in this dataset; consult the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?227377 to compare outcomes across institutions.

Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.

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