Rowan-Cabarrus Community College vs. Tri-County Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Rowan Cabarrus Community College is larger than Tri-County Community College based on total student enrollment (7,028 students vs. 1,023 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rowan Cabarrus Community College is located in Salisbury, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Tri County Community College is in Murphy, NC (Remote Rural setting).
• Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Tri County Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rowan Cabarrus Community College 15:1; Tri County Community College 13:1.

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College vs. Tri-County Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College or Tri-County 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 Tri County Community College than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College ($7,905 vs. $9,548).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rowan Cabarrus Community College are 7.4% lower than at Tri County Community College ($16,196 vs. $17,488).
• Tri County Community College is 27.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (about $572 more per year; $2,636.00 vs. $2,064.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31.6% higher at Tri-County Community College than at Rowan Cabarrus Community College (about $2,108 more per year; $8,780.00 vs. $6,672.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Tri County Community College than at Rowan Cabarrus Community College (76% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tri County Community College students is 44.4% larger than aid received by Rowan Cabarrus Community College students ($10,711 vs. $7,417).

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College vs. Tri-County Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College or Tri-County 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 Tri-County 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; Tri-County Community College - Open admission.

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College vs. Tri-County Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Tri-County 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 Rowan Cabarrus Community College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than Tri-County Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($26,300 vs. $23,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Tri-County Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rowan-Cabarrus Community College students, three years after graduation. (31% 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.