Beaufort County Community College vs. Southwestern Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Southwestern Community College is larger than Beaufort County Community College based on total student enrollment (2,157 students vs. 1,856 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Beaufort County Community College is located in Washington, NC (Distant Town setting); Southwestern Community College is in Sylva, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Beaufort County Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Beaufort County Community College 11:1; Southwestern Community College 10:1.

Beaufort County Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Beaufort County Community College or Southwestern 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 Southwestern Community College than Beaufort County Community College ($6,176 vs. $8,479).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Beaufort County Community College are 26.8% lower than at Southwestern Community College ($9,547 vs. $13,050).
• Southwestern Community College is 61.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Beaufort County Community College (about $1,572 more per year; $4,112.00 vs. $2,540.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 51.8% higher at Southwestern Community College than at Beaufort County Community College (about $4,500 more per year; $13,184.00 vs. $8,684.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Beaufort County Community College than at Southwestern Community College (92% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 31.7% larger than aid received by Beaufort County Community College students ($10,024 vs. $7,610).

Beaufort County Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Beaufort County Community College or Southwestern 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 Southwestern 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; Southwestern Community College - Open admission.

Beaufort County Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Beaufort County Community College and Southwestern 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 Beaufort County Community College earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than Southwestern Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($28,200 vs. $27,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern Community College graduates have a $3,732 lower median loan debt than Beaufort County Community College graduates ($10,750 vs. $14,482).
• Among borrowers, Southwestern Community College graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Beaufort County Community College graduates ($111 vs. $149).
• More Southwestern Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Beaufort County Community College students, three years after graduation. (36% 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.