Cape Fear Community College vs. Gaston College

Comparable Facts

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

Cape Fear Community College is larger than Gaston College based on total student enrollment (14,082 students vs. 6,443 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cape Fear Community College is located in Wilmington, NC (Midsize City setting); Gaston College is in Dallas, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Cape Fear Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Gaston College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cape Fear Community College 13:1; Gaston College 17:1.

Cape Fear Community College vs. Gaston College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cape Fear Community College or Gaston 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 Gaston College than Cape Fear Community College ($8,055 vs. $9,900).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cape Fear Community College are 36.8% lower than at Gaston College ($7,594 vs. $12,018).
• Gaston College is 15.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cape Fear Community College (about $438 more per year; $3,186.00 vs. $2,748.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.9% higher at Gaston College than at Cape Fear Community College (about $438 more per year; $9,330.00 vs. $8,892.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gaston College than at Cape Fear Community College (59% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Gaston College students is 84.6% larger than aid received by Cape Fear Community College students ($8,497 vs. $4,603).

Cape Fear Community College vs. Gaston College Admissions comparison

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

Cape Fear Community College vs. Gaston College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cape Fear Community College and Gaston 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 $3,200 more per year than Gaston College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,100 vs. $27,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.