Blue Ridge Community College vs. WPCC

Comparable Facts

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

Blue Ridge Community College is larger than WPCC based on total student enrollment (2,723 students vs. 1,813 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Blue Ridge Community College vs. WPCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Blue Ridge Community College or WPCC? 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 Western Piedmont Community College than Blue Ridge Community College ($6,448 vs. $8,273).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Piedmont Community College are 4.6% lower than at Blue Ridge Community College ($9,370 vs. $9,826).
• Blue Ridge Community College is 0.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than WPCC (about $10 more per year; $2,660.00 vs. $2,650.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.1% higher at Blue Ridge Community College than at Western Piedmont Community College (about $10 more per year; $8,804.00 vs. $8,794.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Blue Ridge Community College than at Western Piedmont Community College (93% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Piedmont Community College students is 111.8% larger than aid received by Blue Ridge Community College students ($10,194 vs. $4,813).

Blue Ridge Community College vs. WPCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Blue Ridge Community College or WPCC? 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 WPCC 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; WPCC - Open admission.

Blue Ridge Community College vs. WPCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Blue Ridge Community College and WPCC? 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 Western Piedmont Community College earn a median of about $100 more per year than Blue Ridge Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,600 vs. $27,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Piedmont Community College graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than Blue Ridge Community College graduates ($3,500 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, WPCC graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Blue Ridge Community College graduates ($36 vs. $108).
• More Blue Ridge Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WPCC students, three years after graduation. (29% 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.