South Seattle College | Field Guide 2023

Founded in 1969, South Seattle College is located on an 87-acre hilltop campus in West Seattle with panoramic views of the city skyline and surrounding mountains. South serves students with diverse needs to meet their educational and career goals, whether they are just starting their higher education, looking to advance their careers, or trying a new direction. We also offer apprenticeship training at our Georgetown campus. With our affordable and accessible programs, South Seattle College helps people of every age and background thrive in today’s economy.

Key Facts

Highest Enrolled Programs

College Transfer programs
Apprenticeship programs
Basic and Transitional Studies programs
Aviation Maintenance Technology
Welding Technology
Automotive Technology

Enrollment

Headcount (all sources): 8,892
FTES (all sources): 3,776
Headcount (state-funded): 7,877
FTES (state-funded): 3,162

Students in Selected Programs

Applied bachelor's: 93
Apprentices: 3,717
I-BEST: 136
International: 194
Running Start: 426
Worker Retraining: 201

Student Profile

Type of Student

Academic/transfer: 26%
Basic skills: 12%
Workforce education: 52%
Other: 11%

Race/Ethnicity*

Students of color: 54%

American Indian/Alaska Native: 3%
Asian: 20%
Black/African American: 17%
Hispanic/Latino: 16%
Pacific Islander: 2%
White: 56%

Attendance

Full-time: 35%
Part-time: 65%

Family and Finances

Students receiving need-based financial aid: 36%
Students with dependents: 35%

Gender

Female: 35%
Male: 65%

Median age

Points of Interest

Programs to support regional workforce needs

South Seattle College (SSC) offers a wide range of programs that prepare students for careers or continued education at a university. Pre-college and ESL programs give students a jumpstart into college and the workforce, while professional-technical programs train students for our region’s most in-demand careers. These include careers in aviation, automotive, diesel maintenance, welding, nursing, landscape horticulture, culinary arts and wine studies. SSC also trains thousands of apprentices each year in over 40 different trades.

Welcome Center creates a supportive first step for new and returning students

Fully launched in 2022, the SSC Welcome Center offers new students and prior SSC students (who took a break and are returning to college) guidance and support through the enrollment process. Welcome Center staff offers one-on-one help navigating steps to enroll, funding options, exploring program and degree pathways, and more.

EDI team in place to support college community

SSC is grateful to have an Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Community (EDIC) team in place, including an EDIC Director (charged with coordinating and supporting EDI strategic initiatives and supporting EDI faculty development) and an EDIC Navigator (charged with supporting students through retention and completion strategies/interventions, culturally-based programming, and fostering EDI partnerships) within student services. These positions are part of a larger districtwide EDIC team that will help our colleges continue to address equity gaps and become more inclusive and welcoming spaces.

Data is from the 2021-22 academic year. Reflects headcount unless otherwise noted.

*Students of color percent based on unduplicated headcount. Students may be counted in more than one race, so race/ethnicity percentages may not total 100%. Percentages calculated on reported value.