Central Piedmont Community College vs. WPCC

Comparable Facts

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

Central Piedmont Community College is larger than WPCC based on total student enrollment (20,375 students vs. 1,813 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Central Piedmont Community College is located in Charlotte, NC (Large City setting); Western Piedmont Community College is in Morganton, NC (Small City setting).
• Central Piedmont 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: Central Piedmont Community College 15:1; Western Piedmont Community College 10:1.

Central Piedmont Community College vs. WPCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central Piedmont 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 Central Piedmont Community College than WPCC ($4,616 vs. $6,448).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Piedmont Community College are 16.6% lower than at Central Piedmont Community College ($9,370 vs. $11,239).
• Central Piedmont Community College is 5.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than WPCC (about $142 more per year; $2,792.00 vs. $2,650.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.6% higher at Central Piedmont Community College than at Western Piedmont Community College (about $142 more per year; $8,936.00 vs. $8,794.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Piedmont Community College than at Central Piedmont Community College (78% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Piedmont Community College students is 82.8% larger than aid received by Central Piedmont Community College students ($10,194 vs. $5,576).

Central Piedmont Community College vs. WPCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central Piedmont 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 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; WPCC - Open admission.

Central Piedmont Community College vs. WPCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Central Piedmont 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 Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than WPCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,900 vs. $27,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Piedmont Community College graduates have a $3,484 lower median loan debt than Central Piedmont Community College graduates ($3,500 vs. $6,984).
• Among borrowers, WPCC graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Central Piedmont Community College graduates ($36 vs. $72).
• More Central Piedmont Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WPCC students, three years after graduation. (28% 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.