Cape Fear Community College vs. Carteret Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, NC with Carteret Community College in Morehead City, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cape Fear Community College is larger than Carteret Community College based on total student enrollment (14,082 students vs. 1,614 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cape Fear Community College is located in Wilmington, NC (Midsize City setting); Carteret Community College is in Morehead City, NC (Remote Town setting).
• Cape Fear Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Carteret Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cape Fear Community College 13:1; Carteret Community College 10:1.

Cape Fear Community College vs. Carteret Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cape Fear Community College or Carteret 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 Cape Fear Community College than Carteret Community College ($9,900 vs. $10,661).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cape Fear Community College are 40.7% lower than at Carteret Community College ($7,594 vs. $12,808).
• Cape Fear Community College is 19% more expensive for in-state tuition than Carteret Community College (about $438 more per year; $2,748.00 vs. $2,310.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.1% higher at Cape Fear Community College than at Carteret Community College (about $670 more per year; $8,892.00 vs. $8,222.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carteret Community College than at Cape Fear Community College (57% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Carteret Community College students is 89% larger than aid received by Cape Fear Community College students ($8,701 vs. $4,603).

Cape Fear Community College vs. Carteret Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cape Fear Community College or Carteret 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 Carteret Community College and Cape Fear Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cape Fear Community College - Open admission; Carteret Community College - Open admission.

Cape Fear Community College vs. Carteret Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cape Fear Community College and Carteret 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 Cape Fear Community College earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than Carteret Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,100 vs. $27,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Carteret Community College graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than Cape Fear Community College graduates ($3,500 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Carteret Community College graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cape Fear Community College graduates ($36 vs. $108).
• More Carteret Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cape Fear Community College students, three years after graduation. (32% vs. 31%)

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.