Gaston College vs. Southwestern Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Gaston College in Dallas, NC with Southwestern Community College in Sylva, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Gaston College is larger than Southwestern Community College based on total student enrollment (6,443 students vs. 2,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gaston College is located in Dallas, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Southwestern Community College is in Sylva, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Gaston College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gaston College 17:1; Southwestern Community College 10:1.

Gaston College vs. Southwestern Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gaston College or Southwestern 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 Southwestern Community College than Gaston College ($6,176 vs. $8,055).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gaston College are 7.9% lower than at Southwestern Community College ($12,018 vs. $13,050).
• Southwestern Community College is 29.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Gaston College (about $926 more per year; $4,112.00 vs. $3,186.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 41.3% higher at Southwestern Community College than at Gaston College (about $3,854 more per year; $13,184.00 vs. $9,330.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Community College than at Gaston College (80% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 18% larger than aid received by Gaston College students ($10,024 vs. $8,497).

Gaston College vs. Southwestern Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Gaston College or Southwestern 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 Southwestern Community College and Gaston College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Gaston College - Open admission; Southwestern Community College - Open admission.

Gaston College vs. Southwestern Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gaston College and Southwestern 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 Gaston College earn a median of about $700 more per year than Southwestern Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,900 vs. $27,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.