Isothermal Community College vs. Southwestern Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Southwestern Community College is larger than Isothermal Community College based on total student enrollment (2,157 students vs. 1,918 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Isothermal Community College is located in Spindale, NC (Distant Town setting); Southwestern Community College is in Sylva, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Isothermal 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: Isothermal Community College 11:1; Southwestern Community College 10:1.

Isothermal Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Isothermal 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 Isothermal Community College ($6,176 vs. $11,495).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern Community College are 34.4% lower than at Isothermal Community College ($13,050 vs. $19,885).
• Southwestern Community College is 102.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Isothermal Community College (about $2,082 more per year; $4,112.00 vs. $2,030.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 98.6% higher at Southwestern Community College than at Isothermal Community College (about $6,546 more per year; $13,184.00 vs. $6,638.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Isothermal Community College than at Southwestern Community College (92% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 64.7% larger than aid received by Isothermal Community College students ($10,024 vs. $6,086).

Isothermal Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Isothermal 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 Isothermal Community College.

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

Isothermal Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Isothermal 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 Southwestern Community College earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Isothermal Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,200 vs. $25,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Southwestern Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Isothermal Community College students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 10%)

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.