Cape Fear Community College vs. Central Piedmont Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Central Piedmont Community College is larger than Cape Fear Community College based on total student enrollment (20,375 students vs. 14,082 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cape Fear Community College is located in Wilmington, NC (Midsize City setting); Central Piedmont Community College is in Charlotte, NC (Large City setting).
• Cape Fear Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Central Piedmont Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cape Fear Community College 13:1; Central Piedmont Community College 15:1.

Cape Fear Community College vs. Central Piedmont Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cape Fear Community College or Central Piedmont 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 Central Piedmont Community College than Cape Fear Community College ($4,616 vs. $9,900).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cape Fear Community College are 32.4% lower than at Central Piedmont Community College ($7,594 vs. $11,239).
• Central Piedmont Community College is 1.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cape Fear Community College (about $44 more per year; $2,792.00 vs. $2,748.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.5% higher at Central Piedmont Community College than at Cape Fear Community College (about $44 more per year; $8,936.00 vs. $8,892.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central Piedmont Community College than at Cape Fear Community College (63% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Central Piedmont Community College students is 21.1% larger than aid received by Cape Fear Community College students ($5,576 vs. $4,603).

Cape Fear Community College vs. Central Piedmont Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cape Fear Community College or Central Piedmont 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 Central Piedmont 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; Central Piedmont Community College - Open admission.

Cape Fear Community College vs. Central Piedmont Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cape Fear Community College and Central Piedmont 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 $1,200 more per year than Central Piedmont Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,100 vs. $29,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Central Piedmont Community College graduates have a $3,516 lower median loan debt than Cape Fear Community College graduates ($6,984 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Central Piedmont Community College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cape Fear Community College graduates ($72 vs. $108).
• More Cape Fear Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central Piedmont Community College students, three years after graduation. (31% vs. 28%)

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.