Blue Ridge Community College vs. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, NC with Rowan Cabarrus Community College in Salisbury, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rowan Cabarrus Community College is larger than Blue Ridge Community College based on total student enrollment (7,028 students vs. 2,723 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Blue Ridge Community College is located in Flat Rock, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Rowan Cabarrus Community College is in Salisbury, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Blue Ridge Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Blue Ridge Community College 12:1; Rowan Cabarrus Community College 15:1.

Blue Ridge Community College vs. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Blue Ridge Community College or Rowan-Cabarrus 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 Blue Ridge Community College than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College ($8,273 vs. $9,548).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blue Ridge Community College are 39.3% lower than at Rowan Cabarrus Community College ($9,826 vs. $16,196).
• Blue Ridge Community College is 28.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (about $596 more per year; $2,660.00 vs. $2,064.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32% higher at Blue Ridge Community College than at Rowan Cabarrus Community College (about $2,132 more per year; $8,804.00 vs. $6,672.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Blue Ridge Community College than at Rowan Cabarrus Community College (93% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rowan Cabarrus Community College students is 54.1% larger than aid received by Blue Ridge Community College students ($7,417 vs. $4,813).

Blue Ridge Community College vs. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Blue Ridge Community College or Rowan-Cabarrus Community College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Blue Ridge Community College.

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

Blue Ridge Community College vs. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Blue Ridge Community College and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from Blue Ridge Community College earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,500 vs. $26,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rowan Cabarrus Community College graduates have a $984 lower median loan debt than Blue Ridge Community College graduates ($9,516 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Blue Ridge Community College graduates ($98 vs. $108).
• More Blue Ridge Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rowan-Cabarrus Community College students, three years after graduation. (29% vs. 23%)

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.