Central Piedmont Community College vs. McDowell Technical Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC with McDowell Technical Community College in Marion, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Central Piedmont Community College is larger than McDowell Technical Community College based on total student enrollment (20,375 students vs. 1,249 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Central Piedmont Community College is located in Charlotte, NC (Large City setting); McDowell Technical Community College is in Marion, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Central Piedmont Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. McDowell Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Piedmont Community College 15:1; McDowell Technical Community College 8:1.

Central Piedmont Community College vs. McDowell Technical Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central Piedmont Community College or McDowell Technical 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 Central Piedmont Community College than McDowell Technical Community College ($4,616 vs. $8,024).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Piedmont Community College are 5.9% lower than at McDowell Technical Community College ($11,239 vs. $11,943).
• Central Piedmont Community College is 37.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than McDowell Technical Community College (about $760 more per year; $2,792.00 vs. $2,032.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34.6% higher at Central Piedmont Community College than at McDowell Technical Community College (about $2,296 more per year; $8,936.00 vs. $6,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central Piedmont Community College than at McDowell Technical Community College (63% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by McDowell Technical Community College students is 65.4% larger than aid received by Central Piedmont Community College students ($9,220 vs. $5,576).

Central Piedmont Community College vs. McDowell Technical Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central Piedmont Community College or McDowell Technical 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 McDowell Technical Community College and Central Piedmont Community College.

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

Central Piedmont Community College vs. McDowell Technical Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Central Piedmont Community College and McDowell Technical 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 Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than McDowell Technical Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,900 vs. $25,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Central Piedmont Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former McDowell Technical Community College students, three years after graduation. (28% vs. 24%)

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.