Cape Fear Community College vs. WPCC

Comparable Facts

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

Cape Fear Community College is larger than WPCC based on total student enrollment (14,082 students vs. 1,813 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cape Fear Community College is located in Wilmington, NC (Midsize City setting); Western Piedmont Community College is in Morganton, NC (Small City setting).
• Cape Fear Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Western Piedmont Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cape Fear Community College 13:1; Western Piedmont Community College 10:1.

Cape Fear Community College vs. WPCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cape Fear Community College or WPCC? 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 Western Piedmont Community College than Cape Fear Community College ($6,448 vs. $9,900).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cape Fear Community College are 19% lower than at Western Piedmont Community College ($7,594 vs. $9,370).
• Cape Fear Community College is 3.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than WPCC (about $98 more per year; $2,748.00 vs. $2,650.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at Cape Fear Community College than at Western Piedmont Community College (about $98 more per year; $8,892.00 vs. $8,794.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Piedmont Community College than at Cape Fear Community College (78% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Piedmont Community College students is 121.5% larger than aid received by Cape Fear Community College students ($10,194 vs. $4,603).

Cape Fear Community College vs. WPCC Admissions comparison

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

Cape Fear Community College vs. WPCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cape Fear Community College and WPCC? 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 $3,500 more per year than WPCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,100 vs. $27,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Piedmont Community College graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than Cape Fear Community College graduates ($3,500 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, WPCC graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cape Fear Community College graduates ($36 vs. $108).
• More Cape Fear Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WPCC students, three years after graduation. (31% vs. 26%)

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.