Southwestern Community College vs. Tri-County Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Southwestern Community College is larger than Tri-County Community College based on total student enrollment (2,157 students vs. 1,023 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southwestern Community College is located in Sylva, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Tri County Community College is in Murphy, NC (Remote Rural setting).
• Southwestern 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: Southwestern Community College 10:1; Tri County Community College 13:1.

Southwestern Community College vs. Tri-County Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southwestern 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 Southwestern Community College than Tri-County Community College ($6,176 vs. $7,905).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern Community College are 25.4% lower than at Tri County Community College ($13,050 vs. $17,488).
• Southwestern Community College is 56% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tri-County Community College (about $1,476 more per year; $4,112.00 vs. $2,636.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 50.2% higher at Southwestern Community College than at Tri County Community College (about $4,404 more per year; $13,184.00 vs. $8,780.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Community College than at Tri County Community College (80% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tri County Community College students is 6.9% larger than aid received by Southwestern Community College students ($10,711 vs. $10,024).

Southwestern Community College vs. Tri-County Community College Admissions comparison

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

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

Southwestern Community College vs. Tri-County Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Southwestern 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 Southwestern Community College earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than Tri-County Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,200 vs. $23,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Southwestern Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tri-County Community College students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 31%)

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.