South Texas College, Health Science Professions Paramedic Program Costs $6,577 to $8,083. Here Is How Its Graduates Do.
An AAS or certificate program in McAllen, Certificate 51 credit hours or AAS 60 credit hours, five semesters. 91.7% of its graduates passed the NREMT paramedic exam in 2025.
The Short Version
- Its NREMT exam rate (91.7%) is above the Texas program median of 87.0%.
- 92.3% of graduates looking for work in the field found a job, by CoAEMSP's measure.
- Its published cost is above the median for Texas paramedic programs that publish one ($4,828).
- At 10% of the local median wage for paramedics, the program cost is paid back in about 1.4 years.
These lines are generated from the numbers on this page and change when the data does.
How Graduates Do
CoAEMSP requires every accredited program to publish the same outcome measures, so they can be compared program to program. 4
Graduates who passed the National Registry (NREMT) paramedic cognitive exam, as the program reports it to CoAEMSP. Some programs report first-attempt results and some report passing within three attempts; each page says which when the program does. Job placement: graduates employed in EMS or a related field, or in the military or further education ("positive placement"), as the program reports it to CoAEMSP.
Where the Money Goes
Three of every four dollars goes to tuition. AAS total $8,082.85 (tuition $6,612).
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $5,136 |
| Other listed costs (total less tuition) | $1,441 |
| Total 1 | $6,577 |
* How we calculated this: Other listed costs were found by subtracting tuition from the stated total
Not included: prerequisite courses and living costs. Verified with Financial Services and EMS Program, June 10, 2025.
Jobs and Pay in the Rio Grande Valley Area
About 190 paramedics work in the Rio Grande Valley area. The middle half earn between $41,690 and $57,540 a year; new graduates usually start toward the lower end. Texas expects about 580 openings a year statewide through 2034, from new positions, retirements and people changing jobs, with the number of jobs growing 21.7% (from 8,530 to 10,370).
Other Paramedic Programs in the Rio Grande Valley Area
Compare all 3 paramedic programs in the Rio Grande Valley area
| Program | NREMT exam rate | Job placement | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Texas College, Health Science Professions (this page) AAS or certificate, McAllen | 91.7% | 92.3% | $6,577 to $8,083 |
| Texas State Technical College, Harlingen AAS or certificate, Harlingen | 86.4% | 70.4% | Not published |
| Texas Southmost College AAS, Brownsville | 57.0% | 89.0% | Not published |
Program Facts
- Credential
- AAS or certificate
- Length
- Certificate 51 credit hours or AAS 60 credit hours, five semesters
- Schedule
- Day classes
- Starts
- Fall
- Accreditation
- CoAEMSP, Accredited (CAAHEP, on CoAEMSP recommendation)
- Leads to
- NREMT paramedic certification exams (cognitive and psychomotor) and Texas DSHS certification
Sources and Dates
- South Texas College EMS program page, Verified with Financial Services and EMS Program, June 10, 2025.
- South Texas College, Health Science Professions program outcomes page, Program page lists 2021 to 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Paramedics (29-2043), May 2025 estimates.
- Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (programs accredited by CAAHEP) (CoAEMSP), checked Nov. 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Texas and metro areas (employment and wage percentiles), May 2025 estimates.
- Texas Workforce Commission, long-term occupational projections, 2024 to 2034.
Every number was checked against its source on Nov. 4, 2026. Spot an error? Report it. Program Outcomes is independent and not affiliated with any school or CoAEMSP. Our independence policy