Durham Technical Community College vs. Southwestern Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Durham Technical Community College is larger than Southwestern Community College based on total student enrollment (5,157 students vs. 2,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Durham Technical Community College is located in Durham, NC (Midsize City setting); Southwestern Community College is in Sylva, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Durham Technical 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: Durham Technical Community College 7:1; Southwestern Community College 10:1.

Durham Technical Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Durham Technical 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 Southwestern Community College than Durham Technical Community College ($6,176 vs. $7,163).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Durham Technical Community College are 16.7% lower than at Southwestern Community College ($10,872 vs. $13,050).
• Southwestern Community College is 107% more expensive for in-state tuition than Durham Technical Community College (about $2,126 more per year; $4,112.00 vs. $1,986.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 99.9% higher at Southwestern Community College than at Durham Technical Community College (about $6,590 more per year; $13,184.00 vs. $6,594.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Community College than at Durham Technical Community College (80% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 51.3% larger than aid received by Durham Technical Community College students ($10,024 vs. $6,625).

Durham Technical Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Durham Technical 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 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; Southwestern Community College - Open admission.

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

How do outcomes compare for Durham Technical 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 Durham Technical Community College earn a median of about $3,400 more per year than Southwestern Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,600 vs. $27,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern Community College graduates have a $2,402 lower median loan debt than Durham Technical Community College graduates ($10,750 vs. $13,152).
• Among borrowers, Southwestern Community College graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Durham Technical Community College graduates ($111 vs. $135).
• More Southwestern Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Durham Technical Community College students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 25%)

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.