Cape Fear Community College vs. Surry Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Cape Fear Community College is larger than Surry Community College based on total student enrollment (14,082 students vs. 2,796 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cape Fear Community College is located in Wilmington, NC (Midsize City setting); Surry Community College is in Dobson, NC (Distant Rural setting).
• Cape Fear Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Surry Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cape Fear Community College 13:1; Surry Community College 14:1.

Cape Fear Community College vs. Surry Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cape Fear Community College or Surry 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 Surry Community College than Cape Fear Community College ($7,020 vs. $9,900).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cape Fear Community College are 40.6% lower than at Surry Community College ($7,594 vs. $12,780).
• Cape Fear Community College is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Surry Community College (about $80 more per year; $2,748.00 vs. $2,668.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.9% higher at Cape Fear Community College than at Surry Community College (about $80 more per year; $8,892.00 vs. $8,812.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Surry Community College than at Cape Fear Community College (80% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Surry Community College students is 50.6% larger than aid received by Cape Fear Community College students ($6,931 vs. $4,603).

Cape Fear Community College vs. Surry Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cape Fear Community College or Surry 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 Surry 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; Surry Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Surry Community College Aug 2, 2027.

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

How do outcomes compare for Cape Fear Community College and Surry 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 $1,400 more per year than Surry Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,100 vs. $29,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Surry Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cape Fear Community College students, three years after graduation. (42% 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.