Cape Fear Community College vs. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Cape Fear Community College is larger than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College based on total student enrollment (14,082 students vs. 7,028 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cape Fear Community College is located in Wilmington, NC (Midsize City setting); Rowan Cabarrus Community College is in Salisbury, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Cape Fear Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cape Fear Community College 13:1; Rowan Cabarrus Community College 15:1.

Cape Fear Community College vs. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cape Fear Community College or Rowan-Cabarrus 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 Rowan Cabarrus Community College than Cape Fear Community College ($9,548 vs. $9,900).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cape Fear Community College are 53.1% lower than at Rowan Cabarrus Community College ($7,594 vs. $16,196).
• Cape Fear Community College is 33.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (about $684 more per year; $2,748.00 vs. $2,064.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.3% higher at Cape Fear Community College than at Rowan Cabarrus Community College (about $2,220 more per year; $8,892.00 vs. $6,672.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rowan Cabarrus Community College than at Cape Fear Community College (69% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rowan Cabarrus Community College students is 61.1% larger than aid received by Cape Fear Community College students ($7,417 vs. $4,603).

Cape Fear Community College vs. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Admissions comparison

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

Cape Fear Community College vs. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cape Fear Community College and Rowan-Cabarrus 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 $4,800 more per year than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,100 vs. $26,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rowan Cabarrus Community College graduates have a $984 lower median loan debt than Cape Fear Community College graduates ($9,516 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cape Fear Community College graduates ($98 vs. $108).
• More Cape Fear Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rowan-Cabarrus Community College students, three years after graduation. (31% vs. 23%)

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.