McDowell Technical Community College vs Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC)
McDowell Technical Community College and Western Piedmont Community College, both esteemed institutions in North Carolina, offer diverse educational opportunities to students seeking higher education. While they share a commitment to academic excellence, they also possess distinct characteristics that cater to different student needs. McDowell Technical Community College boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for students with varying academic backgrounds. Western Piedmont Community College, on the other hand, offers a wider range of popular majors, including healthcare, business, and engineering, appealing to students with specific career aspirations. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these institutions, including student body demographics, graduation rates, and more, to make an informed decision that aligns with your unique educational goals.
|
![]() McDowell Technical Community College |
![]() Western Piedmont Community College |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Marion, North Carolina | Morganton, North Carolina |
Campus setting | Rural: Fringe | City: Small |
College type | 2 year | 2 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 66.0% | 58.0% |
![]() |
No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | Open Admission | Open Admission |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | ||
Total number of admissions given out | ||
Admitted students who chose to enroll | ||
Yield rate | ||
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | Not required | Not required |
High school GPA | N/A | N/A |
Recommendation letters | N/A | N/A |
High school transcript | N/A | N/A |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | N/A | N/A |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price |
In state:
$14,894
Out of state:
$19,502
|
In state:
$20,599
Out of state:
$26,743
|
Average net price | $4,640 | $5,965 |
Tuition |
In state:
$1,824
Out of state:
$6,432
|
In state:
$2,432
Out of state:
$8,576
|
Room & board | ||
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
83.0%
Average amount $5,081 |
76.0%
Average amount $9,469 |
Students receiving federal student loan | ||
Students taking out private loans | ||
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
1,135
Men 39.0% Women 61.0% |
1,670
Men 34.9% Women 65.1% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | N/A | 0.0% |
International students | 0.7% | 0.4% |
Campus local/setting | Rural: Fringe | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | N/A | N/A |
First year students are required to live on campus? | N/A | N/A |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | North Carolina |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 7:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 47.3% | 50.6% |
Dropout rate | 33.8% | 24.4% |
Transferred out | 13.5% | 11.4% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
|
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.




































































































































































