McDowell Technical Community College vs. Rockingham Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare McDowell Technical Community College in Marion, NC with Rockingham Community College in Wentworth, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rockingham Community College is larger than McDowell Technical Community College based on total student enrollment (1,803 students vs. 1,249 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• McDowell Technical Community College is located in Marion, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Rockingham Community College is in Wentworth, NC (Distant Rural setting).
• McDowell Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rockingham Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: McDowell Technical Community College 8:1; Rockingham Community College 12:1.

McDowell Technical Community College vs. Rockingham Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McDowell Technical Community College or Rockingham 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 Rockingham Community College than McDowell Technical Community College ($3,158 vs. $8,024).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rockingham Community College are 36.4% lower than at McDowell Technical Community College ($7,600 vs. $11,943).
• McDowell Technical Community College is 3.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rockingham Community College (about $66 more per year; $2,032.00 vs. $1,966.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1% higher at McDowell Technical Community College than at Rockingham Community College (about $66 more per year; $6,640.00 vs. $6,574.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rockingham Community College than at McDowell Technical Community College (75% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by McDowell Technical Community College students is 20.7% larger than aid received by Rockingham Community College students ($9,220 vs. $7,638).

McDowell Technical Community College vs. Rockingham Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, McDowell Technical Community College or Rockingham 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 Rockingham Community College and McDowell Technical Community College.

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

McDowell Technical Community College vs. Rockingham Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for McDowell Technical Community College and Rockingham 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 Rockingham Community College earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than McDowell Technical Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,000 vs. $25,400), 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.