Below Average

Score: 38/100

Overall (traditional)

N/R

Outcome Rating

No earnings reported

Sonoran Desert Institute

2-Year Private For-Profit

📍 Tempe, Arizona 85281

🌐 https://www.sdi.edu/

Sonoran Desert Institute — tuition $10,880

ℹ️

Rating Context: ⚠️ Limited Data Available. Some metrics for this institution are incomplete or unavailable, which may affect the overall grade. Consider researching this school directly for the most current information.

Suggested Focus: For this type of institution, we recommend prioritizing the Outcomes Score (C) which measures graduation and job placement rates — the most relevant metrics for career programs.
Graduation Rate: 32%

Outcomes

50/100

Affordability

50/100

Resources

37/100

Experience

22/100

Prestige

23/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

4,763

Total Enrollment

32%

Graduation Rate

73%

Retention Rate

31.0:1

Student-Faculty Ratio

N/A

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Sonoran Desert Institute, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$9,500

Median debt at graduation

33.1%

Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)

32.5%

Students receiving Pell grants

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Sonoran Desert Institute

Median pay of undergraduate certificate or diploma graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major	1 yr after	4 yrs after	vs. national	Rank (pay)	Rank (wage-adj.)	Median debt
Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians	$58,977	$85,119	+55%	#1 of 6	#1	$9,500

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Sonoran Desert Institute Town Property Report

Avg home value near campus: $396,722
Avg rent near campus: $1,680/mo
Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 85040 (4.5% cap, Phoenix)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

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🏆 Where Sonoran Desert Institute Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering Technology/Technician

of 6 schools

Gunsmithing/Gunsmith

of 7 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category	In-State	Out-of-State
Tuition	$10,880	$10,880

Financial Aid

37%

Receive Any Aid

31%

Receive Pell Grants

27%

Take Out Loans

N/A

Avg Net Price

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Gunsmithing/Gunsmith 2,121 grads/yr Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering Technology/Technician 248 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Sonoran Desert Institute's top programs commonly pursue.

Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other

$49k/yr 221,200 jobs

Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

$71k/yr 15,000 jobs

Student Demographics

4,763

Total Students

Women

13%

Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 72%

Hispanic 14%

Black 5%

Asian 2%

Two or More 5%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

Fully Online 100%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 13%

25-64 (Adult) 86%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Sonoran Desert Institute?

Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution. Many schools with open enrollment or specialized programs do not report traditional acceptance rates.

How much does it cost to attend Sonoran Desert Institute?

Tuition at Sonoran Desert Institute is $10,880 for in-state students and $10,880 for out-of-state students .

What is the graduation rate at Sonoran Desert Institute?

The graduation rate at Sonoran Desert Institute is 32%. This graduation rate is low, which may reflect the institution's student population, program types, or other factors worth investigating.

Is Sonoran Desert Institute a good school?

Sonoran Desert Institute has a Repit College Score of 38/100 (Grade: D). Our rating evaluates five key factors:

Outcomes (C): Graduation and retention rates
Affordability (C): Net cost and financial aid access
Resources (D): Class sizes and selectivity
Experience (F): Campus life and learning format
Prestige (F): Reputation and recognition

Note: As a smaller institution, we recommend focusing on the Outcomes score when evaluating this school.

How many students attend Sonoran Desert Institute?

Sonoran Desert Institute has a total enrollment of 4,763 students.

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