Durham Technical Community College vs. McDowell Technical Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Durham Technical Community College in Durham, NC with McDowell Technical Community College in Marion, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Durham Technical Community College is larger than McDowell Technical Community College based on total student enrollment (5,157 students vs. 1,249 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Durham Technical Community College is located in Durham, NC (Midsize City setting); McDowell Technical Community College is in Marion, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Durham Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. McDowell Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Durham Technical Community College 7:1; McDowell Technical Community College 8:1.

Durham Technical Community College vs. McDowell Technical Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Durham Technical Community College or McDowell Technical 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 Durham Technical Community College than McDowell Technical Community College ($7,163 vs. $8,024).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Durham Technical Community College are 9% lower than at McDowell Technical Community College ($10,872 vs. $11,943).
• McDowell Technical Community College is 2.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Durham Technical Community College (about $46 more per year; $2,032.00 vs. $1,986.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at McDowell Technical Community College than at Durham Technical Community College (about $46 more per year; $6,640.00 vs. $6,594.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Durham Technical Community College than at McDowell Technical Community College (69% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by McDowell Technical Community College students is 39.2% larger than aid received by Durham Technical Community College students ($9,220 vs. $6,625).

Durham Technical Community College vs. McDowell Technical Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Durham Technical Community College or McDowell Technical 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 McDowell Technical Community College and Durham Technical Community College.

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

Durham Technical Community College vs. McDowell Technical Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Durham Technical Community College and McDowell Technical 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 Durham Technical Community College earn a median of about $5,200 more per year than McDowell Technical Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,600 vs. $25,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Durham Technical Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former McDowell Technical Community College students, three years after graduation. (25% vs. 24%)

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.