Central Piedmont Community College vs. Wake Technical Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Wake Technical Community College is larger than Central Piedmont Community College based on total student enrollment (24,609 students vs. 20,375 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Central Piedmont Community College is located in Charlotte, NC (Large City setting); Wake Technical Community College is in Raleigh, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Central Piedmont Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Wake Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Piedmont Community College 15:1; Wake Technical Community College 18:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Central Piedmont Community College or Wake 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 Wake Technical Community College ($4,616 vs. $10,767).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Piedmont Community College are 35.2% lower than at Wake Technical Community College ($11,239 vs. $17,334).
• Central Piedmont Community College is 23.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wake Technical Community College (about $538 more per year; $2,792.00 vs. $2,254.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30.2% higher at Central Piedmont Community College than at Wake Technical Community College (about $2,074 more per year; $8,936.00 vs. $6,862.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wake Technical Community College than at Central Piedmont Community College (74% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Central Piedmont Community College students is 16.2% larger than aid received by Wake Technical Community College students ($5,576 vs. $4,800).

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

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

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

How do outcomes compare for Central Piedmont Community College and Wake 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 Wake Technical Community College earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than Central Piedmont Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,500 vs. $29,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Central Piedmont Community College graduates have a $7,766 lower median loan debt than Wake Technical Community College graduates ($6,984 vs. $14,750).
• Among borrowers, Central Piedmont Community College graduates have an estimated $80 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wake Technical Community College graduates ($72 vs. $152).
• More Wake Technical Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central Piedmont Community College students, three years after graduation. (34% 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.