Blue Ridge Community College vs. Wilkes Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Blue Ridge Community College is larger than Wilkes Community College based on total student enrollment (2,723 students vs. 2,593 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Blue Ridge Community College vs. Wilkes Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Blue Ridge Community College or Wilkes 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 Wilkes Community College than Blue Ridge Community College ($658 vs. $8,273).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blue Ridge Community College are 20.1% lower than at Wilkes Community College ($9,826 vs. $12,291).
• Blue Ridge Community College is 3.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wilkes Community College (about $88 more per year; $2,660.00 vs. $2,572.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1% higher at Blue Ridge Community College than at Wilkes Community College (about $88 more per year; $8,804.00 vs. $8,716.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Blue Ridge Community College than at Wilkes Community College (93% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes Community College students is 73.9% larger than aid received by Blue Ridge Community College students ($8,372 vs. $4,813).

Blue Ridge Community College vs. Wilkes Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Blue Ridge Community College or Wilkes 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 Wilkes 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; Wilkes Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wilkes Community College Aug 12, 2027.

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

How do outcomes compare for Blue Ridge Community College and Wilkes 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 $1,400 more per year than Wilkes Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,500 vs. $26,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wilkes Community College graduates have a $2,250 lower median loan debt than Blue Ridge Community College graduates ($8,250 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Wilkes Community College graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Blue Ridge Community College graduates ($85 vs. $108).
• More Wilkes Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Blue Ridge Community College students, three years after graduation. (34% 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.