Cape Fear Community College vs. Tri-County Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Cape Fear Community College is larger than Tri-County Community College based on total student enrollment (14,082 students vs. 1,023 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cape Fear Community College vs. Tri-County Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cape Fear Community College or Tri-County 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 Tri County Community College than Cape Fear Community College ($7,905 vs. $9,900).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cape Fear Community College are 56.6% lower than at Tri County Community College ($7,594 vs. $17,488).
• Cape Fear Community College is 4.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tri-County Community College (about $112 more per year; $2,748.00 vs. $2,636.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at Cape Fear Community College than at Tri County Community College (about $112 more per year; $8,892.00 vs. $8,780.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Tri County Community College than at Cape Fear Community College (76% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tri County Community College students is 132.7% larger than aid received by Cape Fear Community College students ($10,711 vs. $4,603).

Cape Fear Community College vs. Tri-County Community College Admissions comparison

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

Cape Fear Community College vs. Tri-County Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cape Fear Community College and Tri-County 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 $7,500 more per year than Tri-County Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,100 vs. $23,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Tri-County Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cape Fear Community College students, three years after graduation. (31% 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.