Carteret Community College vs. Southwestern Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Carteret Community College in Morehead City, NC with Southwestern Community College in Sylva, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southwestern Community College is larger than Carteret Community College based on total student enrollment (2,157 students vs. 1,614 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Carteret Community College is located in Morehead City, NC (Remote Town setting); Southwestern Community College is in Sylva, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Carteret Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Carteret Community College 10:1; Southwestern Community College 10:1.

Carteret Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carteret Community College or Southwestern 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 Southwestern Community College than Carteret Community College ($6,176 vs. $10,661).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carteret Community College are 1.9% lower than at Southwestern Community College ($12,808 vs. $13,050).
• Southwestern Community College is 78% more expensive for in-state tuition than Carteret Community College (about $1,802 more per year; $4,112.00 vs. $2,310.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 60.4% higher at Southwestern Community College than at Carteret Community College (about $4,962 more per year; $13,184.00 vs. $8,222.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Community College than at Carteret Community College (80% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 15.2% larger than aid received by Carteret Community College students ($10,024 vs. $8,701).

Carteret Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carteret Community College or Southwestern 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 Southwestern Community College and Carteret Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Carteret Community College - Open admission; Southwestern Community College - Open admission.

Carteret Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Carteret Community College and Southwestern 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 Southwestern Community College earn a median of about $100 more per year than Carteret Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,200 vs. $27,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Carteret Community College graduates have a $7,250 lower median loan debt than Southwestern Community College graduates ($3,500 vs. $10,750).
• Among borrowers, Carteret Community College graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Southwestern Community College graduates ($36 vs. $111).
• More Southwestern Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Carteret Community College students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 32%)

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.