Rockingham Community College vs. Southwestern Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Rockingham Community College in Wentworth, 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 Rockingham Community College based on total student enrollment (2,157 students vs. 1,803 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rockingham Community College is located in Wentworth, NC (Distant Rural setting); Southwestern Community College is in Sylva, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Rockingham 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: Rockingham Community College 12:1; Southwestern Community College 10:1.

Rockingham Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rockingham 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 Rockingham Community College than Southwestern Community College ($3,158 vs. $6,176).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rockingham Community College are 41.8% lower than at Southwestern Community College ($7,600 vs. $13,050).
• Southwestern Community College is 109.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rockingham Community College (about $2,146 more per year; $4,112.00 vs. $1,966.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 100.5% higher at Southwestern Community College than at Rockingham Community College (about $6,610 more per year; $13,184.00 vs. $6,574.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Community College than at Rockingham Community College (80% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 31.2% larger than aid received by Rockingham Community College students ($10,024 vs. $7,638).

Rockingham Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Admissions comparison

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

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

Rockingham Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rockingham 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 Rockingham Community College earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than Southwestern Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,000 vs. $27,200), 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.