Richmond Community College vs. WPCC

Comparable Facts

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

Richmond Community College is larger than WPCC based on total student enrollment (2,384 students vs. 1,813 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Richmond Community College is located in Hamlet, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Western Piedmont Community College is in Morganton, NC (Small City setting).
• Richmond 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: Richmond Community College 14:1; Western Piedmont Community College 10:1.

Richmond Community College vs. WPCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Richmond 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 Richmond Community College ($6,448 vs. $6,865).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Piedmont Community College are 43.6% lower than at Richmond Community College ($9,370 vs. $16,614).
• Western Piedmont Community College is 35.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Richmond Community College (about $694 more per year; $2,650.00 vs. $1,956.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34% higher at WPCC than at Richmond Community College (about $2,230 more per year; $8,794.00 vs. $6,564.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Richmond Community College than at Western Piedmont Community College (97% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Piedmont Community College students is 34.5% larger than aid received by Richmond Community College students ($10,194 vs. $7,580).

Richmond Community College vs. WPCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Richmond 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 Richmond Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Richmond Community College - Open admission; WPCC - Open admission.

Richmond Community College vs. WPCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Richmond 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 $2,300 more per year than Richmond Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,600 vs. $25,300), 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.