Research.com
South Mountain Community College logo

South Mountain Community College

#2355 in US ranking Phoenix, AZ
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

Represent this school?

Update this profile on Research.com

Cost

Cost / year
$16,862
Tuition & fees
$2,358
Avg. aid
$3,916
Receiving aid
77%

Outcomes

Graduation rate
16%
Median salary
$35,761
1 yr after graduation

What does South Mountain Community College offer in terms of athletics?

South Mountain Community College fields teams known as the Cougars and competes in junior-college athletics, rather than the NCAA. Its intercollegiate program is associated with the National Junior College Athletic Association and Arizona community-college competition.

Sports listed for the college include baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, softball and volleyball. Offerings and team schedules can change by season, so a prospective athlete should check the current roster and recruiting requirements for their sport. Varsity participation is distinct from informal recreation or fitness activities; a sport's presence on a college-wide list does not establish that every student can join a competitive team or receive athletic aid.

What student groups and Associations are available at South Mountain Community College?

Student organizations at SMCC offer ways to meet peers and take part in campus activities beyond class. Opportunities may include academic, cultural, service and student-leadership groups, with the active roster changing as students and advisers organize each year.

Prospective students should use the current student life or clubs directory to identify recognized organizations and meeting times rather than assume a group named in an older listing is still active. Student government and club participation can provide a route to planning events or representing student concerns, but they differ from college-operated advising and support services.

Who studies at South Mountain Community College?

SMCC enrolled 4,516 students in the reported student-life figures. Its student body includes recent high school students, transfer students and adults returning to education, so the experience is not limited to a traditional full-time freshman cohort.

IPEDS 2024-25 data identify 746 first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates and 493 transfer-in students. The age distribution includes 1,248 students under 18, consistent with substantial enrollment by younger learners, alongside students across adult age groups. Geographic data show that the student population is overwhelmingly from Arizona.

Reported ethnicity counts include 2,068 Hispanic or Latino students, 602 White students and 523 Black or African American students. These are descriptive enrollment figures, not a basis for assumptions about any individual's experience. The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 20 to 1; that collegewide measure does not specify the size of a particular class.

How does student life look like at South Mountain Community College?

Everyday student life at SMCC is shaped by a community-college schedule: students may come to campus for classes, advising, library work or an event while balancing jobs and responsibilities elsewhere. With no campus residence halls, connecting with peers generally takes deliberate participation rather than living in a residential community.

Orientation, academic advising, tutoring and campus activities can help students navigate their first term. The most useful opportunities will depend on when a student is actually on campus. Someone taking evening or online courses, for example, should check the hours and formats of support services instead of assuming that daytime activities will fit their schedule.

What libraries are available to students at South Mountain Community College?

SMCC's main library is in its Learning Resource Center. It provides a place for coursework and research as well as access to library materials and academic assistance.

Students can use the library to find books, articles and other research sources, including digital resources available through the Maricopa libraries. Librarian assistance is particularly useful when an assignment calls for scholarly or credible sources rather than a general web search. Students who rely on remote access, borrowing from another library or a particular study space should check current library procedures and hours before planning around them.

South Mountain Community College Student Life for 2027

Total enrollment

4516

Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen

439

Total staff

52 full time, 201 part time

Veterans affair office

No

South Mountain Community College Student Body

Undergraduate vs. graduate students

Undergraduate: 4,516

Full-time vs. part-time students

Full-time: 1,403
Part-time: 3,113

Full-time degree-seeking students by gender

Women: 214
Men: 225

Students by race/ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino: 2,068
Black or African American: 523
White: 602
American Indian or Alaska Native: 113
Asian: 79
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 6
Two or more races: 177
Unknown: 67

Freshly enrolled students' age

Under 25 years
Over 25 years

South Mountain Community College Sports & Athletics

Varsity teams compete against other colleges, intramural teams within the school. Each column says whether men, women or both take part, and whether the sport offers athletic scholarships (Aid).

Sport

Varsity Intramural Aid

Baseball

Men––

Basketball

Both––

Golf

Both––

Soccer

Men––

Softball

Women––

Volleyball

Women––

Data last updated on November 2, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.