Tri-County Community College vs. WPCC

Comparable Facts

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

Western Piedmont Community College is larger than Tri-County Community College based on total student enrollment (1,813 students vs. 1,023 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Tri County Community College is located in Murphy, NC (Remote Rural setting); Western Piedmont Community College is in Morganton, NC (Small City setting).
• Tri County 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: Tri County Community College 13:1; Western Piedmont Community College 10:1.

Tri-County Community College vs. WPCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tri-County 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 Tri-County Community College ($6,448 vs. $7,905).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Piedmont Community College are 46.4% lower than at Tri County Community College ($9,370 vs. $17,488).
• Western Piedmont Community College is 0.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tri-County Community College (about $14 more per year; $2,650.00 vs. $2,636.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.2% higher at WPCC than at Tri County Community College (about $14 more per year; $8,794.00 vs. $8,780.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Piedmont Community College than at Tri County Community College (78% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tri County Community College students is 5.1% larger than aid received by Western Piedmont Community College students ($10,711 vs. $10,194).

Tri-County Community College vs. WPCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Tri-County 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 Tri-County Community College.

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

Tri-County Community College vs. WPCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tri-County 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 $4,000 more per year than Tri-County Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,600 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 WPCC students, three years after graduation. (31% vs. 26%)

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.