Tri-County Community College vs. Wilkes Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Wilkes Community College is larger than Tri-County Community College based on total student enrollment (2,593 students vs. 1,023 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Tri County Community College is located in Murphy, NC (Remote Rural setting); Wilkes Community College is in Wilkesboro, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Tri County 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: Tri County Community College 13:1; Wilkes Community College 8:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Tri-County 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 Tri-County Community College ($658 vs. $7,905).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wilkes Community College are 29.7% lower than at Tri County Community College ($12,291 vs. $17,488).
• Tri County Community College is 2.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wilkes Community College (about $64 more per year; $2,636.00 vs. $2,572.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at Tri-County Community College than at Wilkes Community College (about $64 more per year; $8,780.00 vs. $8,716.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wilkes Community College than at Tri County Community College (90% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tri County Community College students is 27.9% larger than aid received by Wilkes Community College students ($10,711 vs. $8,372).

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

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

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

How do outcomes compare for Tri-County 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 Wilkes Community College earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than Tri-County Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($26,100 vs. $23,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Wilkes Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tri-County Community College students, three years after graduation. (34% 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.