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Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen
Harlingen, Texas · Private for-profit career college
Address: 1122 Morgan Boulevard, Harlingen, TX 78550 · Phone: (512) 437-7500 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen is a private for-profit trade school in Harlingen, Texas, offering welding, medical assistant, and medical billing & coding programs, accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen has a 60.3% completion rate, near the Texas state average of 63.5%, with median graduate debt of $8,708 and median earnings of $27,035 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance at Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen is reported at $28,757; the school participates in Title IV federal financial aid, and 72.3% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $38,380 | $53,340 | $64,770 |
| Medical assistants | $31,200 | $39,520 | $46,180 |
| Medical records specialists | $34,440 | $48,860 | $63,970 |
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
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 168 | $31,128 | $24,201 | $7,125 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 140 | $19,157 | $18,838 | $9,500 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 33 | $20,226 | $20,807 | $9,500 |
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.
About this school
Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen is a private for-profit trade and career school located in Harlingen, Texas. It is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education and is approved for Title IV federal financial aid, meaning students may use FAFSA-based aid, including Pell Grants, to help pay for their education. The campus's three program families are welding schools, medical assistant programs, and medical billing & coding programs, with welding schools (168 completers) and medical assistant programs (140 completers) the largest by volume.
Federal data show a completion rate of 60.3%, which is near the Texas state average of 63.5%. Graduates who took out loans carried a median debt of $8,708, and median earnings 10 years after entry were $27,035. Annual cost of attendance is reported at $28,757, and 72.3% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a student body with substantial financial need. Undergraduate enrollment is 543, with 341 total trade completers across programs.
This campus may suit students seeking focused, program-specific training in welding or healthcare administrative fields such as medical assisting and medical billing/coding rather than a traditional multi-year degree path; specific program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data, so applicants should confirm scheduling directly with the school. Adult career-changers considering enrollment should verify current accreditation status directly with the Council on Occupational Education and review official outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling, since figures such as placement rates are not reported here and should not be assumed.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen offers welding schools, medical assistant programs, and medical billing & coding programs. Welding (168 completers) and medical assistant training (140 completers) are the largest programs by completions.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, 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 students may apply for FAFSA-based aid, including Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 60.3%, which is near the Texas state average of 63.5%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $8,708, according to federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $27,035, per federal data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
The reported annual cost of attendance is $28,757.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a private for-profit school. For-profit control can affect tuition pricing and institutional funding sources compared to public or non-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (512) 437-7500 or visit scitexas.edu to confirm current program schedules.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the Council on Occupational Education and review official federal outcome data on the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?459985.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The school offers focused programs in welding and healthcare administrative fields, which may suit career changers seeking targeted training, though specific scheduling and format details are not reported here and should be confirmed with the school.
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 directly to ask about credentialing tied to specific programs.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can contact Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen at (512) 437-7500 or through its website, scitexas.edu.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on other nearby schools is not included in this listing; consult the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?459985 to compare completion rates, costs, and earnings across schools.
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.