Blue Ridge Community College vs. McDowell Technical Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Blue Ridge Community College is larger than McDowell Technical Community College based on total student enrollment (2,723 students vs. 1,249 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Blue Ridge Community College is located in Flat Rock, NC (Rural Fringe setting); McDowell Technical Community College is in Marion, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Blue Ridge Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. McDowell Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Blue Ridge Community College 12:1; McDowell Technical Community College 8:1.

Blue Ridge Community College vs. McDowell Technical Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Blue Ridge Community College or McDowell Technical 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 McDowell Technical Community College than Blue Ridge Community College ($8,024 vs. $8,273).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blue Ridge Community College are 17.7% lower than at McDowell Technical Community College ($9,826 vs. $11,943).
• Blue Ridge Community College is 30.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than McDowell Technical Community College (about $628 more per year; $2,660.00 vs. $2,032.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.6% higher at Blue Ridge Community College than at McDowell Technical Community College (about $2,164 more per year; $8,804.00 vs. $6,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Blue Ridge Community College than at McDowell Technical Community College (93% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by McDowell Technical Community College students is 91.6% larger than aid received by Blue Ridge Community College students ($9,220 vs. $4,813).

Blue Ridge Community College vs. McDowell Technical Community College Admissions comparison

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

Blue Ridge Community College vs. McDowell Technical Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Blue Ridge Community College and McDowell Technical 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 $2,100 more per year than McDowell Technical Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,500 vs. $25,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Blue Ridge Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former McDowell Technical Community College students, three years after graduation. (29% vs. 24%)

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.