Durham Technical Community College vs. WPCC

Comparable Facts

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

Durham Technical Community College is larger than WPCC based on total student enrollment (5,157 students vs. 1,813 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Durham Technical Community College is located in Durham, NC (Midsize City setting); Western Piedmont Community College is in Morganton, NC (Small City setting).
• Durham Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Western Piedmont Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Durham Technical Community College 7:1; Western Piedmont Community College 10:1.

Durham Technical Community College vs. WPCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Durham Technical Community College 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 Western Piedmont Community College than Durham Technical Community College ($6,448 vs. $7,163).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Piedmont Community College are 13.8% lower than at Durham Technical Community College ($9,370 vs. $10,872).
• Western Piedmont Community College is 33.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Durham Technical Community College (about $664 more per year; $2,650.00 vs. $1,986.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.4% higher at WPCC than at Durham Technical Community College (about $2,200 more per year; $8,794.00 vs. $6,594.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Piedmont Community College than at Durham Technical Community College (78% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Piedmont Community College students is 53.9% larger than aid received by Durham Technical Community College students ($10,194 vs. $6,625).

Durham Technical Community College vs. WPCC Admissions comparison

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

Durham Technical Community College vs. WPCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Durham Technical Community College 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 Durham Technical Community College earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than WPCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,600 vs. $27,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Piedmont Community College graduates have a $9,652 lower median loan debt than Durham Technical Community College graduates ($3,500 vs. $13,152).
• Among borrowers, WPCC graduates have an estimated $99 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Durham Technical Community College graduates ($36 vs. $135).
• More WPCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Durham Technical Community College students, three years after graduation. (26% 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.