College of the Albemarle vs. Cape Fear Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City, NC with Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cape Fear Community College is larger than College of the Albemarle based on total student enrollment (14,082 students vs. 2,905 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Albemarle is located in Elizabeth City, NC (Distant Town setting); Cape Fear Community College is in Wilmington, NC (Midsize City setting).
• College of the Albemarle is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Cape Fear Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Albemarle 13:1; Cape Fear Community College 13:1.

College of the Albemarle vs. Cape Fear Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Albemarle or Cape Fear 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 College of the Albemarle than Cape Fear Community College ($3,931 vs. $9,900).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cape Fear Community College are 41.2% lower than at College of the Albemarle ($7,594 vs. $12,913).
• Cape Fear Community College is 22.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Albemarle (about $506 more per year; $2,748.00 vs. $2,242.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.2% higher at Cape Fear Community College than at College of the Albemarle (about $1,240 more per year; $8,892.00 vs. $7,652.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Albemarle than at Cape Fear Community College (51% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Albemarle students is 73.5% larger than aid received by Cape Fear Community College students ($7,984 vs. $4,603).

College of the Albemarle vs. Cape Fear Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Albemarle or Cape Fear 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 Cape Fear Community College and College of the Albemarle.

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

College of the Albemarle vs. Cape Fear Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Albemarle and Cape Fear 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 Cape Fear Community College earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than College of the Albemarle graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,100 vs. $25,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Cape Fear Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Albemarle students, three years after graduation. (31% vs. 22%)

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.