Sonoran Desert Institute

https://www.sdi.edu

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    2024 Undergraduate Tuition
    $10,800
    0.735% growth from 2023
    2024 Average Net Price
    $20,118
    After Financial Aid
    2024 Enrolled Students
    5,437
    57.9% Full-Time
    2024 Graduation Rate
    33.1%
    557 Graduates

    About

    Sonoran Desert Institute is a higher education institution located in Maricopa County, AZ. In 2024, the most popular Associates Degree concentrations at Sonoran Desert Institute were Gunsmithing (968 degrees awarded).

    In 2024, 2,369 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Sonoran Desert Institute. 1.82% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 98.2% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (1,705 degrees), 5.96 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (286 degrees).

    The median undergraduate tuition at Sonoran Desert Institute is $10,800, which is $−4,097 less than the national average for Special Focus Institutions ($14,897).

    Special Focus Two-Year: Technical ProfessionsSpecial Focus Institutions

    Costs

    In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Sonoran Desert Institute is $10,800, which is $4,097 less than the national average for Special Focus Institutions ($14,897).

    After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $20,118.

    In 2024, 33% of undergraduate students attending Sonoran Desert Institute received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 28% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

    Tuition Costs

    $10,800
    2024 Undergraduate Tuition

    In 2024, the cost of tuition at Sonoran Desert Institute was $10,800. The cost of tuition at Sonoran Desert Institute is $−4,097 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Special Focus Institutions ($14,897).

    This chart compares the tuition costs of Sonoran Desert Institute (in red) with those of other similar universities.

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    Average Net Price

    $20,118
    2024 Value
    5.1%
    1 Year Growth

    In 2024 Sonoran Desert Institute had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $20,118. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Sonoran Desert Institute grew by 5.1%.

    This chart compares the average net price of Sonoran Desert Institute (in red) with that of other similar universities.

    Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

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    Other Student Expenses

    $13,328
    Room and Board

    The average yearly cost of room and board at Sonoran Desert Institute was of $13,328 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 9.68% between 2023 and 2024.

    This chart compares the average student costs at Sonoran Desert Institute (in red) with that of similar universities.

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    Financial Aid by Income Level

    33%
    Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
    28%
    Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

    33% of undergraduate students at Sonoran Desert Institute received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 22.2% with respect to 2023, when 27% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

    This chart compares the average award discount at Sonoran Desert Institute (in red) with that of other similar universities.

    The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

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    Enrollment

    Sonoran Desert Institute had a total enrollment of 5,437 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Sonoran Desert Institute is 3,148 students and the part-time enrollment is 2,289. This means that 57.9% of students enrolled at Sonoran Desert Institute are enrolled full-time.

    The enrolled student population at Sonoran Desert Institute, both undergraduate and graduate, is 71.3% White, 13.8% Hispanic or Latino, 5.74% Black or African American, 5.3% Two or More Races, 1.1% American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.883% Asian, and 0.478% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

    Students enrolled at Sonoran Desert Institute in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Male (69.5%), followed by Hispanic or Latino Male (13.5%) and Black or African American Male (5.7%).

    Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

    57.9%
    Full-Time Enrollment

    The total enrollment at Sonoran Desert Institute in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 5,437 students. The full-time enrollment at Sonoran Desert Institute is 3,148 and the part-time enrollment is 2,289. This means that 57.9% of students enrolled at Sonoran Desert Institute are enrolled full-time compared with 74.1% at similar Special Focus Institutions.

    This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Sonoran Desert Institute (in red) compares to similar universities.

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    Retention Rate over Time

    69%
    2024 Retention Rate

    Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Sonoran Desert Institute was 69%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Special Focus Institutions (76%), Sonoran Desert Institute had a retention rate lower than its peers.

    This chart shows the retention rate over time at Sonoran Desert Institute (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

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    Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

    Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)
    1. White
      3,876 enrolled students
    2. Hispanic or Latino
      751 enrolled students
    3. Black or African American
      312 enrolled students

    The enrolled student population at Sonoran Desert Institute is 71.3% White, 13.8% Hispanic or Latino, 5.74% Black or African American, 5.3% Two or More Races, 1.1% American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.883% Asian, and 0.478% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Special Focus Institutions is 39.9% White, 19.4% Hispanic or Latino, and 17% Black or African American.

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    Graduates

    In 2024, 2,283 fewer women than men received degrees from Sonoran Desert Institute. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Sonoran Desert Institute is white (1,705 degrees awarded). There were 5.96 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (286 degrees).

    The most common Associates Degree concentration at Sonoran Desert Institute is Gunsmithing (968 degrees awarded).

    In 2024,  the most specialized majors across all degree types at Sonoran Desert Institute, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Mechanical Technologies (2,121 degrees awarded) and Engineering Technologies (248 degrees).

    Common Jobs by Major

    Software developers
    Most Common Job

    The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Sonoran Desert Institute are Software developers (33,942 people), Other managers (29,361 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (17,737 people), Mechanical engineers (12,018 people), and Industrial engineers, including health & safety (11,557 people).

    The most specialized majors at Sonoran Desert Institute in 2024 are Mechanical Technologies (2,121 degrees awarded) and Engineering Technologies (248 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    Highest Paying Jobs by Major

    Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
    Highest Paying Job

    The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Sonoran Desert Institute are Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, Actuaries, Physicians, Commercial and industrial designers, and Chief executives & legislators

    The most specialized majors at Sonoran Desert Institute are Mechanical Technologies (2,121 degrees awarded) and Engineering Technologies (248 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    Common Industries by Major

    Computer Systems Design
    Most Common Industry

    The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Sonoran Desert Institute are Computer Systems Design (43,417 people), Construction (30,392 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (16,892 people), Motor vehicles & motor vehicle equipment manufacturing (15,236 people), and Electronic component & product manufacturing, n.e.c. (12,874 people).

    The most specialized majors at Sonoran Desert Institute are Mechanical Technologies (2,121 degrees awarded) and Engineering Technologies (248 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

    2,326
    Degrees Awarded to Men
    in 2024
    43
    Degrees Awarded to Women
    in 2024

    In 2024, 2,326 degrees were awarded to men at Sonoran Desert Institute, which is 54.1 times more than the number of degrees awarded to females (43).

    This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Sonoran Desert Institute by degrees awarded.

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    Most Common Male Majors

    In 2024, 2,085 degrees were awarded to men at Sonoran Desert Institute in Gunsmithing, which is 57.9 times more than the 36 female recipients with that same degree.

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    Most Common Female Majors

    In 2024, 36 degrees were awarded to men at Sonoran Desert Institute in Gunsmithing, which is 0.0173 times less than the 2,085 male recipients with that same degree.

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    Time to Complete

    20%
    100% Completion Time
    32%
    150% Completion Time

    In 2024, 20% of students graduating from Sonoran Desert Institute completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 32% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 35% within 200%.

    The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Special Focus Institutions Carnegie Classification group.

    Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

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    Race & Ethnicity by Share

    Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)
    1. White
      1,705 degrees awarded
    2. Hispanic or Latino
      286 degrees awarded
    3. Black or African American
      106 degrees awarded

    The most common race/ethnicity at Sonoran Desert Institute is white (1,705 degrees awarded). There were 5.96 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (286 degrees).

    4.18% of degree recipients (99 students) did not report their race.

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    Race & Ethnicity by Sex

    Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)
    1. White Male
      1,677 degrees awarded
    2. White Male
      1,202 degrees awarded
    3. White Male
      990 degrees awarded

    The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Sonoran Desert Institute is white male (1,677 degrees awarded). There were 1.4 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (1,202 degrees).

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    Operations

    In 2024, Sonoran Desert Institute had a total salary expenditure of 33.2M. Sonoran Desert Institute employs 18 Instructors. Most academics at Sonoran Desert Institute are Male Instructor (12), and Female Instructor (6).

    The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Sonoran Desert Institute are: Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 77 employees, Management, with 45 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 29 employees.

    Salary Expenditure

    $17.3M
    2024 Salaries
    34.7%
    growth from 2023

    In 2024, Sonoran Desert Institute paid a median of $17.3M in salaries, which represents 52.2% of their overall expenditure ($33.2M) and a 34.7% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 24.4% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 29.1% growth between 2021 and 2022.

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    Instructional Salaries

    $1.01M
    Instructional Salaries
    18
    Number of Employees

    In 2024, Sonoran Desert Institute paid a total of $1.01M to 18 employees working as instructors, which represents 5.84% of all salaries paid.

    This is compared to a median of $213k (6.38%) for similar Special Focus Institutions.

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    Occupations by Share

    In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Sonoran Desert Institute were Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 77 employees, Management with 45 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 29 employees.

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