Southwestern Community College vs. Wake Technical Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Southwestern Community College in Sylva, NC with Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wake Technical Community College is larger than Southwestern Community College based on total student enrollment (24,609 students vs. 2,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southwestern Community College is located in Sylva, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Wake Technical Community College is in Raleigh, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Southwestern Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Wake Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Southwestern Community College 10:1; Wake Technical Community College 18:1.

Southwestern Community College vs. Wake Technical Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southwestern Community College or Wake Technical 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 Wake Technical Community College ($6,176 vs. $10,767).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern Community College are 24.7% lower than at Wake Technical Community College ($13,050 vs. $17,334).
• Southwestern Community College is 82.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wake Technical Community College (about $1,858 more per year; $4,112.00 vs. $2,254.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 92.1% higher at Southwestern Community College than at Wake Technical Community College (about $6,322 more per year; $13,184.00 vs. $6,862.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Community College than at Wake Technical Community College (80% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 108.8% larger than aid received by Wake Technical Community College students ($10,024 vs. $4,800).

Southwestern Community College vs. Wake Technical Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southwestern Community College or Wake Technical 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 Wake Technical 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; Wake Technical Community College - Open admission.

Southwestern Community College vs. Wake Technical Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Southwestern Community College and Wake Technical 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 Wake Technical Community College earn a median of about $7,300 more per year than Southwestern Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,500 vs. $27,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern Community College graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than Wake Technical Community College graduates ($10,750 vs. $14,750).
• Among borrowers, Southwestern Community College graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wake Technical Community College graduates ($111 vs. $152).
• More Southwestern Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wake Technical Community College students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 34%)

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.