Rowan-Cabarrus Community College vs. WPCC

Comparable Facts

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

Rowan Cabarrus Community College is larger than WPCC based on total student enrollment (7,028 students vs. 1,813 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rowan Cabarrus Community College is located in Salisbury, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Western Piedmont Community College is in Morganton, NC (Small City setting).
• Rowan Cabarrus 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: Rowan Cabarrus Community College 15:1; Western Piedmont Community College 10:1.

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College vs. WPCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rowan-Cabarrus 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 Rowan-Cabarrus Community College ($6,448 vs. $9,548).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Piedmont Community College are 42.1% lower than at Rowan Cabarrus Community College ($9,370 vs. $16,196).
• Western Piedmont Community College is 28.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (about $586 more per year; $2,650.00 vs. $2,064.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31.8% higher at WPCC than at Rowan Cabarrus Community College (about $2,122 more per year; $8,794.00 vs. $6,672.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Piedmont Community College than at Rowan Cabarrus Community College (78% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Piedmont Community College students is 37.4% larger than aid received by Rowan Cabarrus Community College students ($10,194 vs. $7,417).

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College vs. WPCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rowan-Cabarrus 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 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; WPCC - Open admission.

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College vs. WPCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rowan-Cabarrus 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 $1,300 more per year than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,600 vs. $26,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Piedmont Community College graduates have a $6,016 lower median loan debt than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College graduates ($3,500 vs. $9,516).
• Among borrowers, WPCC graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College graduates ($36 vs. $98).
• More WPCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rowan-Cabarrus Community College students, three years after graduation. (26% 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.