Blue Ridge Community College vs. Southwestern Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, NC with Southwestern Community College in Sylva, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Blue Ridge Community College is larger than Southwestern Community College based on total student enrollment (2,723 students vs. 2,157 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Blue Ridge Community College is located in Flat Rock, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Southwestern Community College is in Sylva, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Blue Ridge Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Blue Ridge Community College 12:1; Southwestern Community College 10:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blue Ridge Community College are 24.7% lower than at Southwestern Community College ($9,826 vs. $13,050).
• Out-of-state tuition is 49.8% higher at Southwestern Community College than at Blue Ridge Community College (about $4,380 more per year; $13,184 vs. $8,804).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Blue Ridge Community College than at Southwestern Community College (93% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 108.3% larger than aid received by Blue Ridge Community College students ($10,024 vs. $4,813).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both Blue Ridge Community College and Southwestern Community College.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Blue Ridge Community College graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than Southwestern Community College graduates ($10,500 vs. $10,750).
• Among borrowers, Blue Ridge Community College graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Southwestern Community College graduates ($108 vs. $111).
• More Southwestern Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Blue Ridge Community College students, three years after graduation (36% vs. 29%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.