McDowell Technical Community College vs. Southwestern Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare McDowell Technical Community College in Marion, 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 McDowell Technical Community College based on total student enrollment (2,157 students vs. 1,249 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• McDowell Technical Community College is located in Marion, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Southwestern Community College is in Sylva, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• McDowell 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: McDowell Technical Community College 8:1; Southwestern Community College 10:1.

McDowell Technical Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McDowell 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 McDowell Technical Community College ($6,176 vs. $8,024).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McDowell Technical Community College are 8.5% lower than at Southwestern Community College ($11,943 vs. $13,050).
• Southwestern Community College is 102.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than McDowell Technical Community College (about $2,080 more per year; $4,112.00 vs. $2,032.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 98.6% higher at Southwestern Community College than at McDowell Technical Community College (about $6,544 more per year; $13,184.00 vs. $6,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Community College than at McDowell Technical Community College (80% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 8.7% larger than aid received by McDowell Technical Community College students ($10,024 vs. $9,220).

McDowell Technical Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, McDowell 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 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; Southwestern Community College - Open admission.

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

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