McDowell Technical Community College vs. SCC

Comparable Facts

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

Sandhills Community College is larger than McDowell Technical Community College based on total student enrollment (4,115 students vs. 1,249 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• McDowell Technical Community College is located in Marion, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Sandhills Community College is in Pinehurst, NC (Distant Town setting).
• McDowell Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Sandhills Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: McDowell Technical Community College 8:1; Sandhills Community College 14:1.

McDowell Technical Community College vs. SCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McDowell Technical Community College or SCC? 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 Sandhills Community College than McDowell Technical Community College ($6,513 vs. $8,024).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McDowell Technical Community College are 32.8% lower than at Sandhills Community College ($11,943 vs. $17,780).
• Sandhills Community College is 0.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than McDowell Technical Community College (about $8 more per year; $2,040.00 vs. $2,032.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.1% higher at SCC than at McDowell Technical Community College (about $8 more per year; $6,648.00 vs. $6,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sandhills Community College than at McDowell Technical Community College (88% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by McDowell Technical Community College students is 29% larger than aid received by Sandhills Community College students ($9,220 vs. $7,146).

McDowell Technical Community College vs. SCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, McDowell Technical Community College or SCC? 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 SCC 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; SCC - Open admission.

McDowell Technical Community College vs. SCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for McDowell Technical Community College and SCC? 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 Sandhills Community College earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than McDowell Technical Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,800 vs. $25,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More SCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former McDowell Technical Community College students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 24%)

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.