Cape Fear Community College vs. Isothermal Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Cape Fear Community College is larger than Isothermal Community College based on total student enrollment (14,082 students vs. 1,918 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cape Fear Community College is located in Wilmington, NC (Midsize City setting); Isothermal Community College is in Spindale, NC (Distant Town setting).
• Cape Fear Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Isothermal Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cape Fear Community College 13:1; Isothermal Community College 11:1.

Cape Fear Community College vs. Isothermal Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cape Fear Community College or Isothermal 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 Isothermal Community College ($9,900 vs. $11,495).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cape Fear Community College are 61.8% lower than at Isothermal Community College ($7,594 vs. $19,885).
• Cape Fear Community College is 35.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Isothermal Community College (about $718 more per year; $2,748.00 vs. $2,030.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34% higher at Cape Fear Community College than at Isothermal Community College (about $2,254 more per year; $8,892.00 vs. $6,638.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Isothermal Community College than at Cape Fear Community College (92% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Isothermal Community College students is 32.2% larger than aid received by Cape Fear Community College students ($6,086 vs. $4,603).

Cape Fear Community College vs. Isothermal Community College Admissions comparison

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

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

How do outcomes compare for Cape Fear Community College and Isothermal 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 $5,300 more per year than Isothermal Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,100 vs. $25,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Cape Fear Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Isothermal Community College students, three years after graduation. (31% vs. 10%)

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.