Somerset Community College is located in Somerset, Kentucky, and it is part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. The school has six different campuses that offer day, evening and weekend courses. The variation in course location and times is done to help more Kentuckians access the college's services. Students may earn an associate degree in two years, or take classes at the
. college to complete other shorter degrees and certifications. Somerset opened in 1965 with the goal of preparing students to either transfer to larger schools for higher degrees, or to enter the workforce. The college is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and units and degrees earned can transfer to other schools. The school currently offers over 60 different courses of study, including nursing, criminal justice and early childhood education. Tuition at the school is fairly affordable with each credit costing in state residents $130 if they are a returning student, and $135 for new students. Out of state students pay a bit more depending on if they are from a neighboring county that borders Kentucky state lines or not. Those in a neighboring county pay between $260 and $270, while those students who are out of state and not in a bordering county pay between $445 and $465 per credit hour. The school releases statistics every few years for their graduating classes earning an associates degree. In 2009, there were 728 females graduating and 292 males. The majority of the student population is Caucasian with 960 students in the 2009 class being classified under that ethnicity. Their retention rate is over 60 percent, which means that at least 60 percent of the students return the following year full-time. The campus website has several success stories for prospective students to read. These stories, located at http://www.somerset.kctcs.edu/About_Us/Success_Stories.aspx, help people learn about how the college has changed the lives of students attending. There are also links for students to meet staff and faculty members at the college to gain a better idea of why they are working for Somerset. http://www.somerset.kctcs.edu/ or http://www.gohigherky.org/campustour/undergraduate/4695/Somerset_Community_College/Somerset_Community_College1.html
