Isothermal Community College vs. WPCC

Comparable Facts

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

Isothermal Community College is larger than WPCC based on total student enrollment (1,918 students vs. 1,813 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Isothermal Community College is located in Spindale, NC (Distant Town setting); Western Piedmont Community College is in Morganton, NC (Small City setting).
• Isothermal Community 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: Isothermal Community College 11:1; Western Piedmont Community College 10:1.

Isothermal Community College vs. WPCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Isothermal Community 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 Isothermal Community College ($6,448 vs. $11,495).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Piedmont Community College are 52.9% lower than at Isothermal Community College ($9,370 vs. $19,885).
• Western Piedmont Community College is 30.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Isothermal Community College (about $620 more per year; $2,650.00 vs. $2,030.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.5% higher at WPCC than at Isothermal Community College (about $2,156 more per year; $8,794.00 vs. $6,638.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Isothermal Community College than at Western Piedmont Community College (92% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Piedmont Community College students is 67.5% larger than aid received by Isothermal Community College students ($10,194 vs. $6,086).

Isothermal Community College vs. WPCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Isothermal Community 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 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; WPCC - Open admission.

Isothermal Community College vs. WPCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Isothermal Community 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 Western Piedmont Community College earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than Isothermal Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,600 vs. $25,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More WPCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Isothermal Community College students, three years after graduation. (26% 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.