College of the Albemarle vs. WPCC

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Albemarle is larger than WPCC based on total student enrollment (2,905 students vs. 1,813 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

College of the Albemarle vs. WPCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Albemarle 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 College of the Albemarle than WPCC ($3,931 vs. $6,448).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Piedmont Community College are 27.4% lower than at College of the Albemarle ($9,370 vs. $12,913).
• Western Piedmont Community College is 18.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Albemarle (about $408 more per year; $2,650.00 vs. $2,242.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.9% higher at WPCC than at College of the Albemarle (about $1,142 more per year; $8,794.00 vs. $7,652.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Piedmont Community College than at College of the Albemarle (78% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Piedmont Community College students is 27.7% larger than aid received by College of the Albemarle students ($10,194 vs. $7,984).

College of the Albemarle vs. WPCC Admissions comparison

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

College of the Albemarle vs. WPCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Albemarle 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 Western Piedmont Community College earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than College of the Albemarle graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,600 vs. $25,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More WPCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Albemarle students, three years after graduation. (26% 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.