Blue Ridge Community College vs. Central Piedmont Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, NC with Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Central Piedmont Community College is larger than Blue Ridge Community College based on total student enrollment (20,375 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); Central Piedmont Community College is in Charlotte, NC (Large City setting).
• Blue Ridge Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Central Piedmont Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Blue Ridge Community College 12:1; Central Piedmont Community College 15:1.

Blue Ridge Community College vs. Central Piedmont Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Blue Ridge Community College or Central Piedmont 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 Central Piedmont Community College than Blue Ridge Community College ($4,616 vs. $8,273).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blue Ridge Community College are 12.6% lower than at Central Piedmont Community College ($9,826 vs. $11,239).
• Central Piedmont Community College is 5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Blue Ridge Community College (about $132 more per year; $2,792.00 vs. $2,660.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.5% higher at Central Piedmont Community College than at Blue Ridge Community College (about $132 more per year; $8,936.00 vs. $8,804.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Blue Ridge Community College than at Central Piedmont Community College (93% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Central Piedmont Community College students is 15.9% larger than aid received by Blue Ridge Community College students ($5,576 vs. $4,813).

Blue Ridge Community College vs. Central Piedmont Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Blue Ridge Community College or Central Piedmont Community College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Central Piedmont 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; Central Piedmont Community College - Open admission.

Blue Ridge Community College vs. Central Piedmont Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Blue Ridge Community College and Central Piedmont Community College? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than Blue Ridge Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,900 vs. $27,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Central Piedmont Community College graduates have a $3,516 lower median loan debt than Blue Ridge Community College graduates ($6,984 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Central Piedmont Community College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Blue Ridge Community College graduates ($72 vs. $108).
• More Blue Ridge Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central Piedmont Community College students, three years after graduation. (29% vs. 28%)

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.