Southwestern Community College campus
Southwestern Community College logo

Southwestern Community College

Type 2 year, Public
Campus locale Town: Distant
Degrees offered Undergraduate
Calendar system Semester
Student body size Small
Student to faculty ratio 11 to 1
Students retention rate 68%
On-time graduation rate 40%

Located in Sylva, North Carolina, Southwestern Community College is a public, institution that offers undergraduate degrees. The college operates on a semester-based calendar system, providing students with structured academic terms.

One of the notable aspects of Southwestern Community College is its open admission policy. This means that all high school graduates and individuals who hold a GED qualification are eligible to apply for admission. This inclusive approach allows a wide range of students to pursue their higher education goals, regardless of their academic background.

Southwestern Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

With a students-to-faculty ratio of 11-to-1, Southwestern Community College emphasizes small class sizes, fostering a supportive and interactive learning environment.

While the on-time graduation rate at Southwestern Community College is reported to be 40%, it is essential to consider the context of this statistic. For comparison, North Carolina state's graduation rate for the 2021-2022 was 61% whereas the national average was 35%.

The student retention rate of 68% at Southwestern Community College suggests that a significant percentage of students choose to continue their studies at the institution after their first-year.


  • Accredited by: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

In-State Tuition & Fees

$2,601

Cost of attendance at Southwestern Community College in 2022 for students from North Carolina.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 2 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

North Carolina's average $7,237
National average $4,604

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$7,913

Cost of attendance at Southwestern Community College in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 2 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

North Carolina's average $20,075
National average $8,757

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 74 of freshman students at Southwestern Community College received on average $11,731 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$11,731
Students Receiving Aid Average Amount Total Amount
Pell Grant 37 54% $7,046 $260,684
Other Federal Grant 49 72% $11,412 $559,208
State Grant/Scholarships 12 18% $2,204 $26,452
Institutional Grant/Scholarships 2 3% $450 $900
Total Grant & Scholarships 50 74% $11,731 $586,560

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of Southwestern Community College students who enrolled in 2018 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of Southwestern Community College students is 39.6%. Female students graduated at a rate of 38.9%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 40.6%.

39.6%

  • white 42.1% 48 students
  • hispanic 42.1% 8 students

Service Offerings

Southwestern Community College provides the following additional services to its students
  • Remedial services
  • Placement services for graduates
  • Academic/career counseling services
  • Employment services for students

Educational Offerings

Southwestern Community College offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.
  • Academic
  • Occupational
  • Postbaccalaureate Recreational or avocational education
  • Adult basic remedial or high school equivalent

Veteran Services

  • Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
  • Recognized student veteran organization
  • Credit for military training

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.