{{Short description|Private college in Knoxville, Tennessee, US}} {{hatnote|For the Durham University college, see South College, Durham. Not to be confused with South University.}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox university | name = South College | native_name = | image_name = South College - Logo white.jpg | image_size = | image_alt = South College logo | caption = | latin_name = | motto = | mottoeng = | established = 1882 | closed = | type = Private for-profit university | affiliation = | endowment = | budget = | officer_in_charge = | chairman = | chancellor = Stephen A. South | president = | vice-president = | Executive Director = | superintendent = | provost = | vice_chancellor = | rector = | principal = | dean = | director = | head_label = | head = | academic_staff = | administrative_staff = | students = 20,000 | undergrad = | postgrad = | doctoral = | city = Knoxville | state = Tennessee | country = United States | coor = coordinates {{Coord|35|57|29.6526|N|83|58|32.8542|W|type:edu|display=inline,title}} | campus = | former_names = Knoxville Business College | free_label = | free = | colors = | colours = | athletics = | sports = | nickname = | mascot = | affiliations = | website = {{URL|https://www.south.edu/}} | logo = | footnotes = }} '''South College''' is a private for-profit institution with its main campus in Knoxville, Tennessee. The college offers approximately 100 programs, from certificate programs to degree programs at the associate, bachelor's, master's, educational specialist, and doctoral levels.
It was founded as '''Knoxville Business College''' in 1882, acquired by Stephen A. South in 1989, and renamed South College in 2001. ==History== Knoxville Business College was founded in 1882. It was acquired by Stephen A. South in 1989, obtained accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges in 2000, and changed its name to South College in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-11 |title=Why South College is the Right Place for You |url=https://www.south.edu/blog/why-south-college-is-the-right-place-for-you/ |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=South College |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2003, students at South College became eligible for the Tennessee Hope Scholarship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tn.gov/collegepays/money-for-college/tn-education-lottery-programs/tennessee-hope-scholarship.html|title=Tennessee Education Lottery Program – Eligible Institutions|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref> It began construction of its main Knoxville campus in February 2005.<ref>{{cite news |title=South College Breaks New Ground for Campus |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-south-colleg/183403850/ |access-date=4 November 2025 |publisher=The Knoxville News-Sentinel |date=9 March 2025}}</ref>
Originally a branch of Nashville Business College, Knoxville Business College was founded in 1882 by Jacob T. Johnson in the downtown business district of Knoxville.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McHugh |first=Mel |date=2009 |title=History of South College Library |url=https://www.tnla.org/page/333 |url-status=live |access-date=December 27, 2025 |website=Tennessee Library Association}}</ref> It was acquired by Stephen A. South in 1989, obtained accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges in 2000 and changed its name to South College in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-11 |title=Why South College is the Right Place for You |url=https://www.south.edu/blog/why-south-college-is-the-right-place-for-you/ |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=South College |language=en-US}}</ref> The college began its first master's level program, the Master of Health Science in Physician Assistant Studies, in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paschoolfinder.com/item/south-college/|title=South College Physician Assistant Program|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref> The college's student population reached approximately 1,000 students in 2009.<ref name=SouthBennett>{{cite news |last1=Bennett |first1=Robert |title=South College honors President for 20 years of leadership |url=https://advance.lexis.com/document/?pdmfid=1519360&crid=da6764f2-0cc1-4fc0-b28e-3da70e384eb9&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fnews%2Furn%3AcontentItem%3A5CG3-DWT1-F0NV-F21W-00000-00&pdcontentcomponentid=563178&pdteaserkey=sr3&pditab=allpods&ecomp=hc-yk&earg=sr3&prid=45b11db4-617e-4923-b219-2d18183da83e |access-date=5 November 2025 |work=Knoxville Enlightener |via=LexisNexis |date=21 December 2009}}</ref>
In 2003, students at South College became eligible to participate in the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tn.gov/collegepays/money-for-college/tn-education-lottery-programs/tennessee-hope-scholarship.html|title=Tennessee Education Lottery Program – Eligible Institutions|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref> In 2007, the college began its first master's level program, the Master of Health Science in Physician Assistant Studies program.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paschoolfinder.com/item/south-college/|title=South College Physician Assistant Program|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref> South College's Doctor of Pharmacy program, its first doctoral degree program, launched in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://schoolpages.pharmcas.org/publishedsurvey/449#1|title=South College (TN) School of Pharmacy|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref>
In 2015, the college launched a hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy program.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.south.edu/programs/doctor-physical-therapy/|title=Doctor of Physical Therapy|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref> The same year, students became eligible to participate in the Tennessee Promise scholarship program and the associated South College Opportunity Grant was established.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/collegepays/money-for-college/state-programs/TNPromiseListofInstitutions_032217.pdf|title=Tennessee Promise Institutions|date=March 22, 2017|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.south.edu/admissions/financial-aid/|title=Financial Aid|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref>
In 2016, the merger for the South College Asheville campus was completed, and in 2017 the South College Nashville campus was established. The school launched its South College Promise and Military grants in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.south.edu/admissions/financial-aid/south-college-promise-grant/|title=The South College Promise Grant|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.south.edu/admissions/financial-aid/military-grant/|title=Military Grant|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref> In 2018, the Online Operations Center in Pittsburgh and the Atlanta campus were both established.<ref name=ref1>{{Cite news |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/money/2022/07/05/cherokee-health-systems-joins-national-initiative-support-climate-resilient-communities-and-decarbon/7812765001/ |title=Knoxville Biz Ticker: South College opens new campus in Pittsburgh|date=5 July 2022|work=Knoxville News Sentinel |access-date=4 November 2025}}</ref> When Fountainhead College of Technology closed mid-semester in November 2018, South College allowed its students to finish their programs at its campuses in Knoxville. The school also hired four Fountainhead faculty members needed to teach the courses.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kast |first1=Monica |title=South College to help Fountainhead Students |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-south-colleg/183403803/ |access-date=4 November 2025 |work=The Knoxville News-Sentinel |via=Newspapers.com |date=8 November 2018}}</ref>
The Indianapolis and Orlando campuses opened in 2021.<ref>{{cite news |title=South College Opens Indy Campus |url=https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/articles/south-college-opens-indy-campus |access-date=14 December 2025 |work=INside Indiana Business |date=17 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wooddell |first1=Brody |title=South College expands Orlando campus to meet growing healthcare training demand |url=https://www.wftv.com/news/local/south-college-expands-orlando-campus-meet-growing-healthcare-training-demand/UEHXUTJKFVC4PJYNC4LXF3QLGM/ |access-date=11 April 2026 |work=WFTV |date=9 April 2026 |language=en}}</ref> In 2022, South College opened a new campus in Pittsburgh.<ref name=ref1/> The same year, it began self-paced Competency-Based Education programs, offering master's or doctoral degrees in business, education, and religious ministry.<ref name="10news"/> South College Asheville announced 100 percent of its nursing students passed their licensure exam for the prior two years in 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Madison |title=South College achieves 100% pass rate in nursing, hoping to ease healthcare shortage |url=https://wlos.com/news/local/south-college-nursing-student-100-percent-passing-rate-two-years-asheville-workforce-medical-field |access-date=6 November 2025 |work=WLOS |date=10 April 2024}}</ref> The school started a competency based Doctor of Nursing Practice program in 2025.<ref name="10news"/> The Dallas, Texas campus opened October 2025.<ref name="KERA">{{cite news |last1=Ruhman |first1=Abigail |title=South College opens first Texas location in Dallas to address health care workforce shortages |url=https://www.keranews.org/health-wellness/2025-10-30/south-college-texas-campus-dallas-health-care-nursing-radiology-dental-workforce-shortages |access-date=14 December 2025 |work=KERA NPR |date=30 October 2025}}</ref>
In 2025, enrollment at South College reached 20,000 students.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-01 |title=South College surpasses 20,000 students amidst unprecedented growth |url=https://www.south.edu/south-college-surpasses-20000-students-amidst-unprecedented-growth/ |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=South College |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Campuses== Entranceway to South College Lonas Campus|thumb * Knoxville, Tennessee (2 locations) * Asheville, North Carolina * Nashville, Tennessee * Atlanta, Georgia * Indianapolis, Indiana * Orlando, Florida * Dallas, Texas * Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania * Marietta, Georgia<ref>{{cite web |title=Locations |url=https://www.south.edu/location/ |website=South College |access-date=20 October 2025}}</ref> * Online – Online Operations Center
==Academics==
South College offers certificate, associate, bachelor's, master's, educational specialist, and doctoral degree programs.<ref name="10news">{{cite news |last1=Velasquez |first1=Aaron |title=South College's flexible college program enrolls over 1,000 |url=https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/10news-today/south-college-cbe/51-439a305b-4bfb-4b2c-89db-a3279aefae0e |access-date=3 November 2025 |work=WBIR |date=13 March 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20251016162945/https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/10news-today/south-college-cbe/51-439a305b-4bfb-4b2c-89db-a3279aefae0e |archive-date=16 October 2025}}</ref><ref name="academics">{{cite web |title=Academics |url=https://www.south.edu/academics |website=South College |access-date=6 November 2025}}</ref> It had more than 100 programs as of 2025, including in health care, business administration, criminal justice, and education, among others. Programs may be online, in-person, or a hybrid.<ref name="academics"/> The school employed 1,303 faculty members in fall 2023, of whom 384 were full-time. The student-faculty ratio was 23 to 1 that year.<ref name="colnav">{{cite web |title=South College |url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=South+College&s=TN&id=220552#programs |website=College Navigator |publisher=National Center for Education Statistics |access-date=14 March 2026 }}</ref> Campus locations are small, with class sizes ranging from 20-50 students.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brewer |first1=Bill |title=South College Expanding West|url=https://archive.today/20251104174306/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-south-colleg/183404223/ |access-date=4 November 2025 |publisher=The Knoxville News Sentinel |date=7 February 2010}}</ref>
South College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. South College can award degrees at the doctoral, master's, baccalaureate, and associate levels.<ref name="colnav"/>
==Student body== South College Knoxville had a fall 2023 enrollment of 8,234 total students, 6,406 of whom were undergraduates. Approximately 89 percent of undergraduates identified as female and approximately 78 percent of students were full-time.<ref name="colnav"/>
As of December 2025, South College had over 20,000 enrolled students and over 3,000 employees across campuses.<ref>{{cite news |title=South College enrolls 20,000 students as rapid expansion continues |url=https://www.butlereagle.com/20251202/south-college-enrolls-20000-students-as-rapid-expansion-continues/ |access-date=14 December 2025 |work=Butler Eagler |date=2 December 2025}}</ref>
==Notable alumni==
* Seth W. Hancock, horse breeder * Zach Payne, politician<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/148158/zach-payne|title=Vote Smart - Facts For All}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Official website}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:University and college buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Tennessee Category:Universities and colleges in Knoxville, Tennessee Category:Universities and colleges established in 1882 Category:For-profit universities and colleges in the United States Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Category:Private universities and colleges in Tennessee Category:Knoxville, Tennessee Category:National Register of Historic Places in Knoxville, Tennessee Category:1882 establishments in Tennessee