WPCC vs. Wilkes Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Piedmont Community College in Morganton, 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 WPCC based on total student enrollment (2,593 students vs. 1,813 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Western Piedmont Community College is located in Morganton, NC (Small City setting); Wilkes Community College is in Wilkesboro, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Western Piedmont 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: Western Piedmont Community College 10:1; Wilkes Community College 8:1.

WPCC vs. Wilkes Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WPCC 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 WPCC ($658 vs. $6,448).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Piedmont Community College are 23.8% lower than at Wilkes Community College ($9,370 vs. $12,291).
• Western Piedmont Community College is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wilkes Community College (about $78 more per year; $2,650.00 vs. $2,572.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.9% higher at WPCC than at Wilkes Community College (about $78 more per year; $8,794.00 vs. $8,716.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wilkes Community College than at Western Piedmont Community College (90% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Piedmont Community College students is 21.8% larger than aid received by Wilkes Community College students ($10,194 vs. $8,372).

WPCC vs. Wilkes Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WPCC 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 WPCC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WPCC - Open admission; Wilkes Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wilkes Community College Aug 12, 2027.

WPCC vs. Wilkes Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WPCC 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 Western Piedmont Community College earn a median of about $1,500 more per year than Wilkes Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,600 vs. $26,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Piedmont Community College graduates have a $4,750 lower median loan debt than Wilkes Community College graduates ($3,500 vs. $8,250).
• Among borrowers, WPCC graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wilkes Community College graduates ($36 vs. $85).
• More Wilkes Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WPCC students, three years after graduation. (34% 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.