Rowan-Cabarrus Community College vs. Wilkes Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Rowan Cabarrus Community College is larger than Wilkes Community College based on total student enrollment (7,028 students vs. 2,593 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rowan Cabarrus Community College is located in Salisbury, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Wilkes Community College is in Wilkesboro, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Wilkes Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rowan Cabarrus Community College 15:1; Wilkes Community College 8:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College or Wilkes 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 Wilkes Community College than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College ($658 vs. $9,548).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wilkes Community College are 24.1% lower than at Rowan Cabarrus Community College ($12,291 vs. $16,196).
• Wilkes Community College is 24.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (about $508 more per year; $2,572.00 vs. $2,064.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30.6% higher at Wilkes Community College than at Rowan Cabarrus Community College (about $2,044 more per year; $8,716.00 vs. $6,672.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wilkes Community College than at Rowan Cabarrus Community College (90% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes Community College students is 12.9% larger than aid received by Rowan Cabarrus Community College students ($8,372 vs. $7,417).

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

Which college is harder to get into, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College or Wilkes 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 Wilkes 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; Wilkes Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wilkes Community College Aug 12, 2027.

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

How do outcomes compare for Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Wilkes 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 $200 more per year than Wilkes Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($26,300 vs. $26,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wilkes Community College graduates have a $1,266 lower median loan debt than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College graduates ($8,250 vs. $9,516).
• Among borrowers, Wilkes Community College graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College graduates ($85 vs. $98).
• More Wilkes Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rowan-Cabarrus Community College students, three years after graduation. (34% 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.