Blue Ridge Community College vs. Cape Fear Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, 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 Blue Ridge Community College based on total student enrollment (14,082 students vs. 2,723 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Blue Ridge Community College is located in Flat Rock, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Cape Fear Community College is in Wilmington, NC (Midsize City setting).
• Blue Ridge 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: Blue Ridge Community College 12:1; Cape Fear Community College 13:1.

Blue Ridge Community College vs. Cape Fear Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Blue Ridge 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 Blue Ridge Community College than Cape Fear Community College ($8,273 vs. $9,900).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cape Fear Community College are 22.7% lower than at Blue Ridge Community College ($7,594 vs. $9,826).
• Cape Fear Community College is 3.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Blue Ridge Community College (about $88 more per year; $2,748.00 vs. $2,660.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1% higher at Cape Fear Community College than at Blue Ridge Community College (about $88 more per year; $8,892.00 vs. $8,804.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Blue Ridge Community College than at Cape Fear Community College (93% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Blue Ridge Community College students is 4.6% larger than aid received by Cape Fear Community College students ($4,813 vs. $4,603).

Blue Ridge Community College vs. Cape Fear Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Blue Ridge 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 Blue Ridge Community College.

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

Blue Ridge Community College vs. Cape Fear Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Blue Ridge 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 $3,600 more per year than Blue Ridge Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,100 vs. $27,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cape Fear Community College and Blue Ridge Community College graduates have the same median loan debt ($10,500 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Cape Fear Community College and Blue Ridge Community College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($108 vs. $108).
• More Cape Fear Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Blue Ridge Community College students, three years after graduation. (31% vs. 29%)

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.