Craven Community College vs. Southwestern Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Craven Community College in New Bern, NC with Southwestern Community College in Sylva, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Craven Community College is larger than Southwestern Community College based on total student enrollment (3,103 students vs. 2,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Craven Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Craven Community College 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 Craven Community College than Southwestern Community College ($3,596 vs. $6,176).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Craven Community College are 4.6% lower than at Southwestern Community College ($12,456 vs. $13,050).
• Southwestern Community College is 103.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Craven Community College (about $2,090 more per year; $4,112.00 vs. $2,022.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 98.9% higher at Southwestern Community College than at Craven Community College (about $6,554 more per year; $13,184.00 vs. $6,630.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Community College than at Craven Community College (80% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 68% larger than aid received by Craven Community College students ($10,024 vs. $5,968).

Craven Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Craven Community College 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 Craven Community College.

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

Craven Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Craven Community College 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 Craven Community College earn a median of about $5,400 more per year than Southwestern Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,600 vs. $27,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Craven Community College graduates have a $4,750 lower median loan debt than Southwestern Community College graduates ($6,000 vs. $10,750).
• Among borrowers, Craven Community College graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Southwestern Community College graduates ($62 vs. $111).
• More Southwestern Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Craven Community College students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 33%)

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.