Blue Ridge Community College vs. Isothermal Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Blue Ridge Community College is larger than Isothermal Community College based on total student enrollment (2,723 students vs. 1,918 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Blue Ridge Community College is located in Flat Rock, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Isothermal Community College is in Spindale, NC (Distant Town setting).
• Blue Ridge Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Isothermal Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Blue Ridge Community College 12:1; Isothermal Community College 11:1.

Blue Ridge Community College vs. Isothermal Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Blue Ridge Community College or Isothermal 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 Isothermal Community College ($8,273 vs. $11,495).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blue Ridge Community College are 50.6% lower than at Isothermal Community College ($9,826 vs. $19,885).
• Blue Ridge Community College is 31% more expensive for in-state tuition than Isothermal Community College (about $630 more per year; $2,660.00 vs. $2,030.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.6% higher at Blue Ridge Community College than at Isothermal Community College (about $2,166 more per year; $8,804.00 vs. $6,638.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Blue Ridge Community College than at Isothermal Community College (93% vs. 92%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Isothermal Community College students is 26.4% larger than aid received by Blue Ridge Community College students ($6,086 vs. $4,813).

Blue Ridge Community College vs. Isothermal Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Blue Ridge Community College or Isothermal 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 Isothermal 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; Isothermal Community College - Open admission.

Blue Ridge Community College vs. Isothermal Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Blue Ridge Community College and Isothermal 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 Blue Ridge Community College earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than Isothermal Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,500 vs. $25,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Blue Ridge Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Isothermal Community College students, three years after graduation. (29% vs. 10%)

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.