Central Piedmont Community College vs. Southwestern Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Central Piedmont Community College is larger than Southwestern Community College based on total student enrollment (20,375 students vs. 2,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Central Piedmont Community College is located in Charlotte, NC (Large City setting); Southwestern Community College is in Sylva, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Central Piedmont 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: Central Piedmont Community College 15:1; Southwestern Community College 10:1.

Central Piedmont Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central Piedmont 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 Central Piedmont Community College than Southwestern Community College ($4,616 vs. $6,176).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Piedmont Community College are 13.9% lower than at Southwestern Community College ($11,239 vs. $13,050).
• Southwestern Community College is 47.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Central Piedmont Community College (about $1,320 more per year; $4,112.00 vs. $2,792.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47.5% higher at Southwestern Community College than at Central Piedmont Community College (about $4,248 more per year; $13,184.00 vs. $8,936.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Community College than at Central Piedmont Community College (80% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 79.8% larger than aid received by Central Piedmont Community College students ($10,024 vs. $5,576).

Central Piedmont Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central Piedmont 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 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; Southwestern Community College - Open admission.

Central Piedmont Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Central Piedmont 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 Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than Southwestern Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,900 vs. $27,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Central Piedmont Community College graduates have a $3,766 lower median loan debt than Southwestern Community College graduates ($6,984 vs. $10,750).
• Among borrowers, Central Piedmont Community College graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Southwestern Community College graduates ($72 vs. $111).
• More Southwestern Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central Piedmont Community College students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 28%)

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.