McDowell Technical Community College vs. WPCC

Comparable Facts

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

Western Piedmont Community College is larger than McDowell Technical Community College based on total student enrollment (1,813 students vs. 1,249 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• McDowell Technical Community College is located in Marion, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Western Piedmont Community College is in Morganton, NC (Small City setting).
• McDowell Technical 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: McDowell Technical Community College 8:1; Western Piedmont Community College 10:1.

McDowell Technical Community College vs. WPCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McDowell Technical 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 McDowell Technical Community College ($6,448 vs. $8,024).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Piedmont Community College are 21.5% lower than at McDowell Technical Community College ($9,370 vs. $11,943).
• Western Piedmont Community College is 30.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than McDowell Technical Community College (about $618 more per year; $2,650.00 vs. $2,032.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.4% higher at WPCC than at McDowell Technical Community College (about $2,154 more per year; $8,794.00 vs. $6,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Piedmont Community College than at McDowell Technical Community College (78% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Piedmont Community College students is 10.6% larger than aid received by McDowell Technical Community College students ($10,194 vs. $9,220).

McDowell Technical Community College vs. WPCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, McDowell Technical 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 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; WPCC - Open admission.

McDowell Technical Community College vs. WPCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for McDowell Technical 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 $2,200 more per year than McDowell Technical Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,600 vs. $25,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More WPCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former McDowell Technical Community College students, three years after graduation. (26% 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.