Texas Border Business
By Amanda Sotelo
South Texas College is starting this new year as one of the best community colleges in Texas for online and in-person learning.
“Happy New Year to STC. This is great news and a great way to start 2023,” said STC President Ricardo J. Solis, Ph.D. “We are continuously striving to provide the highest quality education in our region, to increase flexible learning and give students every opportunity they need to better their lives and their families. To have this work acknowledged is validating.”
The news comes from University HQ and Intelligent.com, respectively.
University HQ is an industry leading, independent educational organization that compiles a comprehensive set of information on top-rated colleges and scholarships in the nation to help students navigate the higher education process.
As ranked by University HQ, STC is a Top Five college in Texas for its online learning, making its online programs the highest ranking in the Rio Grande Valley.
STC offers 34, 100% online associate and certificate programs, including five online bachelor’s degree programs that include Nursing, Organizational Leadership, Operations Management, Medical and Health Services Management and Computer and Information Technologies.
STC is the only community college in Texas to offer five baccalaureate degrees.
“At STC, students have the flexibility to learn their way,” said Anahid Petrosian, STC assistant vice president of Academic Advancement. “Many of our students are non-traditional, in the sense that they have to work while pursuing their education, and this gives them the chance to complete their education on their time.”
STC’s online campus also offers some of the lowest tuition rates in the nation. In 2021, tuition was only about $8,100.
In addition to STC’s recognition for its online learning, the college has also been named one of the Best Community Colleges in Texas for 2023 by Intelligent.com.
Intelligent.com is a higher education resource guide for program rankings and higher education planning. Research completed by the organization identifies top schools based on tuition costs, retention and graduation rates and the format of online coursework delivery.
“We need to remain innovative, take risks and create bold solutions to continue our upward momentum,” said Solis. “Times are changing, and we need to adapt, adapt to new technologies, adapt to student needs and adapt to a new era. We’re adding new programs, including new short-term credentials and expanding our reach across the border. None of this would be possible without our remarkable faculty and staff, and of course, our Board of Trustees. So, these 2023 recognitions are culmination of everyone’s efforts.”
STC’s five campuses, two higher education centers and one virtual campus, with an enrollment of nearly 30,000 students, more than 127 degree and certificate options and five baccalaureate degrees, makes it one of the state’s leading colleges.
The college is also a leader in dual enrollment, serving nearly 130,000 high school students since 2000 and saving families more than $340 million in tuition, workforce training and competency-based learning (CBE), meaning that students can turn work experience into college credit.
STC is also a 2022 Military Friendly Gold Award recipient for is service and resources to veteran students, their dependents and spouses.
“This year we’re celebrating 30 years, that’s three decades of educating a region and changing lives,” said Solis. “Congratulations to everyone at STC that works so hard at making the college a great place to learn.”
For more information on the programs and services offered at STC, visit https://www.southtexascollege.edu/
