Rowan-Cabarrus Community College vs. Southwestern Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Rowan Cabarrus Community College in Salisbury, NC with Southwestern Community College in Sylva, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rowan Cabarrus Community College is larger than Southwestern Community College based on total student enrollment (7,028 students vs. 2,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rowan Cabarrus Community College is located in Salisbury, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Southwestern Community College is in Sylva, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Rowan Cabarrus 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: Rowan Cabarrus Community College 15:1; Southwestern Community College 10:1.

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rowan-Cabarrus 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 Southwestern Community College than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College ($6,176 vs. $9,548).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern Community College are 19.4% lower than at Rowan Cabarrus Community College ($13,050 vs. $16,196).
• Southwestern Community College is 99.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (about $2,048 more per year; $4,112.00 vs. $2,064.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 97.6% higher at Southwestern Community College than at Rowan Cabarrus Community College (about $6,512 more per year; $13,184.00 vs. $6,672.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Community College than at Rowan Cabarrus Community College (80% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 35.1% larger than aid received by Rowan Cabarrus Community College students ($10,024 vs. $7,417).

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rowan-Cabarrus 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 Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.

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

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College vs. Southwestern Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rowan-Cabarrus 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 Southwestern Community College earn a median of about $900 more per year than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,200 vs. $26,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rowan Cabarrus Community College graduates have a $1,234 lower median loan debt than Southwestern Community College graduates ($9,516 vs. $10,750).
• Among borrowers, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Southwestern Community College graduates ($98 vs. $111).
• More Southwestern Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rowan-Cabarrus Community College students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 23%)

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.