Beaufort County Community College vs. Cape Fear Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Beaufort County Community College in Washington, NC with Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cape Fear Community College is larger than Beaufort County Community College based on total student enrollment (14,082 students vs. 1,856 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Beaufort County Community College is located in Washington, NC (Distant Town setting); Cape Fear Community College is in Wilmington, NC (Midsize City setting).
• Beaufort County Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Cape Fear Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Beaufort County Community College 11:1; Cape Fear Community College 13:1.

Beaufort County Community College vs. Cape Fear Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Beaufort County Community College or Cape Fear Community College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Beaufort County Community College than Cape Fear Community College ($8,479 vs. $9,900).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cape Fear Community College are 20.5% lower than at Beaufort County Community College ($7,594 vs. $9,547).
• Cape Fear Community College is 8.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Beaufort County Community College (about $208 more per year; $2,748.00 vs. $2,540.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.4% higher at Cape Fear Community College than at Beaufort County Community College (about $208 more per year; $8,892.00 vs. $8,684.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Beaufort County Community College than at Cape Fear Community College (92% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Beaufort County Community College students is 65.3% larger than aid received by Cape Fear Community College students ($7,610 vs. $4,603).

Beaufort County Community College vs. Cape Fear Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Beaufort County Community College or Cape Fear Community College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Cape Fear Community College and Beaufort County Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Beaufort County Community College - Open admission; Cape Fear Community College - Open admission.

Beaufort County Community College vs. Cape Fear Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Beaufort County Community College and Cape Fear Community College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Cape Fear Community College earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than Beaufort County Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,100 vs. $28,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cape Fear Community College graduates have a $3,982 lower median loan debt than Beaufort County Community College graduates ($10,500 vs. $14,482).
• Among borrowers, Cape Fear Community College graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Beaufort County Community College graduates ($108 vs. $149).
• More Cape Fear Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Beaufort County Community College students, three years after graduation. (31% vs. 17%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.