Guilford Technical Community College vs. Southwestern Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Guilford Technical Community College is larger than Southwestern Community College based on total student enrollment (11,485 students vs. 2,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Guilford Technical Community College is located in Jamestown, NC (Distant Town setting); Southwestern Community College is in Sylva, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Guilford Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Guilford Technical Community College 16:1; Southwestern Community College 10:1.

Guilford Technical Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Guilford Technical Community 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 Guilford Technical Community College ($6,176 vs. $14,819).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Guilford Technical Community College are 10.1% lower than at Southwestern Community College ($11,736 vs. $13,050).
• Southwestern Community College is 77.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Guilford Technical Community College (about $1,792 more per year; $4,112.00 vs. $2,320.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 71.3% higher at Southwestern Community College than at Guilford Technical Community College (about $5,488 more per year; $13,184.00 vs. $7,696.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Guilford Technical Community College than at Southwestern Community College (81% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 80.3% larger than aid received by Guilford Technical Community College students ($10,024 vs. $5,560).

Guilford Technical Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Guilford Technical Community 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 Guilford Technical Community College.

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

Guilford Technical Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Guilford Technical Community 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 Guilford Technical Community College earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than Southwestern Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,300 vs. $27,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern Community College graduates have a $5,250 lower median loan debt than Guilford Technical Community College graduates ($10,750 vs. $16,000).
• Among borrowers, Southwestern Community College graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Guilford Technical Community College graduates ($111 vs. $165).
• More Southwestern Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Guilford Technical Community College students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 18%)

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.