Durham Technical Community College vs. Wilkes Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Durham Technical Community College is larger than Wilkes Community College based on total student enrollment (5,157 students vs. 2,593 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Durham Technical Community College vs. Wilkes Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Durham Technical Community College or Wilkes 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 Wilkes Community College than Durham Technical Community College ($658 vs. $7,163).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Durham Technical Community College are 11.5% lower than at Wilkes Community College ($10,872 vs. $12,291).
• Wilkes Community College is 29.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Durham Technical Community College (about $586 more per year; $2,572.00 vs. $1,986.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.2% higher at Wilkes Community College than at Durham Technical Community College (about $2,122 more per year; $8,716.00 vs. $6,594.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wilkes Community College than at Durham Technical Community College (90% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes Community College students is 26.4% larger than aid received by Durham Technical Community College students ($8,372 vs. $6,625).

Durham Technical Community College vs. Wilkes Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Durham Technical Community College or Wilkes 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 Wilkes 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; Wilkes Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wilkes Community College Aug 12, 2027.

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

How do outcomes compare for Durham Technical Community College and Wilkes 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 $4,500 more per year than Wilkes Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,600 vs. $26,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wilkes Community College graduates have a $4,902 lower median loan debt than Durham Technical Community College graduates ($8,250 vs. $13,152).
• Among borrowers, Wilkes Community College graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Durham Technical Community College graduates ($85 vs. $135).
• More Wilkes Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Durham Technical Community College students, three years after graduation. (34% 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.