Pearl River Community College vs. SMCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Pearl River Community College in Poplarville, MS with Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit, MS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pearl River Community College is larger than SMCC based on total student enrollment (6,011 students vs. 1,758 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pearl River Community College is located in Poplarville, MS (Remote Rural setting); Southwest Mississippi Community College is in Summit, MS (Rural Fringe setting).
• Pearl River Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwest Mississippi Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pearl River Community College 26:1; Southwest Mississippi Community College 21:1.

Pearl River Community College vs. SMCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pearl River Community College or SMCC? 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 Southwest Mississippi Community College than Pearl River Community College ($4,171 vs. $7,170).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest Mississippi Community College are 15.8% lower than at Pearl River Community College ($4,800 vs. $5,702).
• Southwest Mississippi Community College is 10.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pearl River Community College (about $380 more per year; $4,080.00 vs. $3,700.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.1% higher at SMCC than at Pearl River Community College (about $680 more per year; $6,780.00 vs. $6,100.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pearl River Community College than at Southwest Mississippi Community College (94% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwest Mississippi Community College students is 5.1% larger than aid received by Pearl River Community College students ($7,748 vs. $7,374).

Pearl River Community College vs. SMCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pearl River Community College or SMCC? 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 SMCC and Pearl River Community College.

• Southwest Mississippi Community College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pearl River Community College - Not reported; SMCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SMCC Aug 15, 2027.

Pearl River Community College vs. SMCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pearl River Community College and SMCC? 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 Pearl River Community College earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than SMCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,700 vs. $30,600), 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.