Erie Community College vs. TC3

Comparable Facts

Compare Erie Community College in Buffalo, NY with Tompkins Cortland Community College in Dryden, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Erie Community College is larger than TC3 based on total student enrollment (8,090 students vs. 4,958 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Erie Community College is located in Buffalo, NY (Large City setting); Tompkins Cortland Community College is in Dryden, NY (Rural Fringe setting).
• Erie Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Tompkins Cortland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Erie Community College 20:1; Tompkins Cortland Community College 12:1.

Erie Community College vs. TC3 Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Erie Community College or TC3? 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 Erie Community College than TC3 ($7,155 vs. $12,465).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tompkins Cortland Community College are 28.8% lower than at Erie Community College ($11,626 vs. $16,320).
• Erie Community College is 62.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than TC3 (about $4,330 more per year; $11,300.00 vs. $6,970.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.8% higher at TC3 than at Erie Community College (about $1,555 more per year; $12,855.00 vs. $11,300.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Tompkins Cortland Community College than at Erie Community College (80% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tompkins Cortland Community College students is 2.3% larger than aid received by Erie Community College students ($7,356 vs. $7,190).

Erie Community College vs. TC3 Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Erie Community College or TC3? 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 TC3 and Erie Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Erie Community College - Open admission; TC3 - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: TC3 Jul 15, 2027.

Erie Community College vs. TC3 Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Erie Community College and TC3? 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 Erie Community College earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than TC3 graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,400 vs. $33,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Erie Community College graduates have a $5,249 lower median loan debt than TC3 graduates ($7,751 vs. $13,000).
• Among borrowers, Erie Community College graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than TC3 graduates ($80 vs. $134).
• More Erie Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former TC3 students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 42%)

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.