Finger Lakes Community College vs. TC3

Comparable Facts

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

Finger Lakes Community College is larger than TC3 based on total student enrollment (6,004 students vs. 4,958 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Finger Lakes Community College is located in Canandaigua, NY (Rural Fringe setting); Tompkins Cortland Community College is in Dryden, NY (Rural Fringe setting).
• Finger Lakes 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: Finger Lakes Community College 15:1; Tompkins Cortland Community College 12:1.

Finger Lakes Community College vs. TC3 Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Finger Lakes 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 Tompkins Cortland Community College than Finger Lakes Community College ($12,465 vs. $13,003).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tompkins Cortland Community College are 22.5% lower than at Finger Lakes Community College ($11,626 vs. $15,008).
• Tompkins Cortland Community College is 11.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Finger Lakes Community College (about $736 more per year; $6,970.00 vs. $6,234.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 52.7% higher at TC3 than at Finger Lakes Community College (about $4,437 more per year; $12,855.00 vs. $8,418.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Tompkins Cortland Community College than at Finger Lakes Community College (80% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tompkins Cortland Community College students is 9.2% larger than aid received by Finger Lakes Community College students ($7,356 vs. $6,736).

Finger Lakes Community College vs. TC3 Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Finger Lakes 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 Finger Lakes Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Finger Lakes Community College - Open admission; TC3 - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Finger Lakes Community College Aug 25, 2027; TC3 Jul 15, 2027.

Finger Lakes Community College vs. TC3 Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Finger Lakes 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 Tompkins Cortland Community College earn a median of about $800 more per year than Finger Lakes Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,400 vs. $32,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Finger Lakes Community College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than TC3 graduates ($11,000 vs. $13,000).
• Among borrowers, Finger Lakes Community College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than TC3 graduates ($113 vs. $134).
• More TC3 graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Finger Lakes Community College students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 41%)

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.