College of the Albemarle vs. Southwestern Community College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Albemarle is larger than Southwestern Community College based on total student enrollment (2,905 students vs. 2,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Albemarle is located in Elizabeth City, NC (Distant Town setting); Southwestern Community College is in Sylva, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of the Albemarle is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Albemarle 13:1; Southwestern Community College 10:1.

College of the Albemarle vs. Southwestern Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Albemarle 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 College of the Albemarle than Southwestern Community College ($3,931 vs. $6,176).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Albemarle are 1% lower than at Southwestern Community College ($12,913 vs. $13,050).
• Southwestern Community College is 83.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Albemarle (about $1,870 more per year; $4,112.00 vs. $2,242.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 72.3% higher at Southwestern Community College than at College of the Albemarle (about $5,532 more per year; $13,184.00 vs. $7,652.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Community College than at College of the Albemarle (80% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 25.6% larger than aid received by College of the Albemarle students ($10,024 vs. $7,984).

College of the Albemarle vs. Southwestern Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Albemarle 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 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; Southwestern Community College - Open admission.

College of the Albemarle vs. Southwestern Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Albemarle 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 Southwestern Community College earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than College of the Albemarle graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,200 vs. $25,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Southwestern Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Albemarle students, three years after graduation. (36% 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.