Gaston College vs. WPCC

Comparable Facts

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

Gaston College is larger than WPCC based on total student enrollment (6,443 students vs. 1,813 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Gaston College vs. WPCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gaston College or WPCC? 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 Western Piedmont Community College than Gaston College ($6,448 vs. $8,055).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Piedmont Community College are 22% lower than at Gaston College ($9,370 vs. $12,018).
• Gaston College is 20.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than WPCC (about $536 more per year; $3,186.00 vs. $2,650.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.1% higher at Gaston College than at Western Piedmont Community College (about $536 more per year; $9,330.00 vs. $8,794.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Piedmont Community College than at Gaston College (78% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Piedmont Community College students is 20% larger than aid received by Gaston College students ($10,194 vs. $8,497).

Gaston College vs. WPCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Gaston College or WPCC? 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 WPCC 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; WPCC - Open admission.

Gaston College vs. WPCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gaston College and WPCC? 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 $300 more per year than WPCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,900 vs. $27,600), 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.