Durham Technical Community College vs. Tri-County Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Durham Technical Community College is larger than Tri-County Community College based on total student enrollment (5,157 students vs. 1,023 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Durham Technical Community College is located in Durham, NC (Midsize City setting); Tri County Community College is in Murphy, NC (Remote Rural setting).
• Durham Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Tri County Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Durham Technical Community College 7:1; Tri County Community College 13:1.

Durham Technical Community College vs. Tri-County Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Durham Technical Community College or Tri-County 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 Tri-County Community College ($7,163 vs. $7,905).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Durham Technical Community College are 37.8% lower than at Tri County Community College ($10,872 vs. $17,488).
• Tri County Community College is 32.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Durham Technical Community College (about $650 more per year; $2,636.00 vs. $1,986.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.2% higher at Tri-County Community College than at Durham Technical Community College (about $2,186 more per year; $8,780.00 vs. $6,594.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Tri County Community College than at Durham Technical Community College (76% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tri County Community College students is 61.7% larger than aid received by Durham Technical Community College students ($10,711 vs. $6,625).

Durham Technical Community College vs. Tri-County Community College Admissions comparison

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

Durham Technical Community College vs. Tri-County Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Durham Technical Community College and Tri-County 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 $7,000 more per year than Tri-County Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,600 vs. $23,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Tri-County Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Durham Technical Community College students, three years after graduation. (31% 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.