McDowell Technical Community College vs. Tri-County Community College

Comparable Facts

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

McDowell Technical Community College is larger than Tri-County Community College based on total student enrollment (1,249 students vs. 1,023 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• McDowell Technical Community College is located in Marion, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Tri County Community College is in Murphy, NC (Remote Rural setting).
• McDowell Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Tri County Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: McDowell Technical Community College 8:1; Tri County Community College 13:1.

McDowell Technical Community College vs. Tri-County Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McDowell Technical Community College or Tri-County 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 Tri County Community College than McDowell Technical Community College ($7,905 vs. $8,024).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McDowell Technical Community College are 31.7% lower than at Tri County Community College ($11,943 vs. $17,488).
• Tri County Community College is 29.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than McDowell Technical Community College (about $604 more per year; $2,636.00 vs. $2,032.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.2% higher at Tri-County Community College than at McDowell Technical Community College (about $2,140 more per year; $8,780.00 vs. $6,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Tri County Community College than at McDowell Technical Community College (76% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tri County Community College students is 16.2% larger than aid received by McDowell Technical Community College students ($10,711 vs. $9,220).

McDowell Technical Community College vs. Tri-County Community College Admissions comparison

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

McDowell Technical Community College vs. Tri-County Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for McDowell Technical Community College and Tri-County 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 McDowell Technical Community College earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than Tri-County Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($25,400 vs. $23,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Tri-County Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former McDowell Technical Community College students, three years after graduation. (31% 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.