Blue Ridge Community College vs. Southwestern Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Blue Ridge Community College is larger than Southwestern Community College based on total student enrollment (2,723 students vs. 2,157 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Blue Ridge Community College is located in Flat Rock, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Southwestern Community College is in Sylva, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Blue Ridge 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: Blue Ridge Community College 12:1; Southwestern Community College 10:1.

Blue Ridge Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Blue Ridge 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 Blue Ridge Community College ($6,176 vs. $8,273).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blue Ridge Community College are 24.7% lower than at Southwestern Community College ($9,826 vs. $13,050).
• Southwestern Community College is 54.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Blue Ridge Community College (about $1,452 more per year; $4,112.00 vs. $2,660.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 49.8% higher at Southwestern Community College than at Blue Ridge Community College (about $4,380 more per year; $13,184.00 vs. $8,804.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Blue Ridge Community College than at Southwestern Community College (93% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 108.3% larger than aid received by Blue Ridge Community College students ($10,024 vs. $4,813).

Blue Ridge Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Admissions comparison

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

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

How do outcomes compare for Blue Ridge Community College and Southwestern 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 Blue Ridge Community College earn a median of about $300 more per year than Southwestern Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,500 vs. $27,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Blue Ridge Community College graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than Southwestern Community College graduates ($10,500 vs. $10,750).
• Among borrowers, Blue Ridge Community College graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Southwestern Community College graduates ($108 vs. $111).
• More Southwestern Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Blue Ridge Community College students, three years after graduation. (36% 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.