Forsyth Tech vs. McDowell Technical Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem, NC with McDowell Technical Community College in Marion, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Forsyth Technical Community College is larger than McDowell Technical Community College based on total student enrollment (9,099 students vs. 1,249 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Forsyth Technical Community College is located in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting); McDowell Technical Community College is in Marion, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Forsyth Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. McDowell Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Forsyth Technical Community College 12:1; McDowell Technical Community College 8:1.

Forsyth Tech vs. McDowell Technical Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Forsyth Tech or McDowell Technical 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 Forsyth Technical Community College than McDowell Technical Community College ($6,917 vs. $8,024).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Forsyth Technical Community College are 5.7% lower than at McDowell Technical Community College ($11,266 vs. $11,943).
• Forsyth Technical Community College is 12% more expensive for in-state tuition than McDowell Technical Community College (about $244 more per year; $2,276.00 vs. $2,032.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.7% higher at Forsyth Tech than at McDowell Technical Community College (about $244 more per year; $6,884.00 vs. $6,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Forsyth Technical Community College than at McDowell Technical Community College (84% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by McDowell Technical Community College students is 50.1% larger than aid received by Forsyth Technical Community College students ($9,220 vs. $6,141).

Forsyth Tech vs. McDowell Technical Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Forsyth Tech or McDowell Technical 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 McDowell Technical Community College and Forsyth Tech.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Forsyth Tech - Open admission; McDowell Technical Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Forsyth Tech Jul 29, 2027.

Forsyth Tech vs. McDowell Technical Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Forsyth Tech and McDowell Technical 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 Forsyth Technical Community College earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than McDowell Technical Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,300 vs. $25,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More McDowell Technical Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Forsyth Tech students, three years after graduation. (24% vs. 20%)

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.