C+

Above Average

Score: 57/100

Overall (traditional)

Outcome Rating

35/100 · earnings-weighted

Southwestern Community College

2-Year Public

📍 Sylva, North Carolina 28779

🌐 https://www.southwesterncc.edu/

Southwestern Community College — tuition $5,472 in-state, $19,296 out-of-state

Outcomes

C+

60/100

Affordability

B+

79/100

Resources

70/100

Experience

37/100

Prestige

31/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

2,109

Total Enrollment

54%

Graduation Rate

70%

Retention Rate

11.0:1

Student-Faculty Ratio

N/A

Acceptance Rate

$7,131

Avg Net Price

🏠 Housing Market Near Southwestern Community College ▼

58% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value

$335,149

Avg Monthly Rent

$1,638

1-Year Change

+1.5%

See full rental market data for 28779 →

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Southwestern Community College, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$34,145

Median earnings 10 yrs after entry

$31,660

Median earnings 6 yrs after entry

$10,500

Median debt at graduation

53.1%

Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)

36.2%

Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 31% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 18th percentile among associate-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (NC wage index 0.87). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Southwestern Community College

Median pay of associate's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major	1 yr after	4 yrs after	vs. national	Rank (pay)	Rank (wage-adj.)	Median debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$61,931	$74,987	-7%	#722 of 962	#603	$12,244
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions	$48,233	$55,008	-16%	#486 of 560	#468	—
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$31,162	$45,261	-7%	#356 of 547	#291	—
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services	$42,374	$44,951	+6%	#258 of 476	#209	—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	$25,973	$41,953	-5%	#544 of 947	#395	$7,845

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Southwestern Community College Town Property Report

Avg home value near campus: $335,149
Avg rent near campus: $1,638/mo
Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 28789 (4.2% cap, Whittier)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

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🏆 Where Southwestern Community College Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#13

Office Management and Supervision

of 34 schools

#13

Accounting and Finance

of 33 schools

#24

Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician

of 66 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category	In-State	Out-of-State
Tuition	$5,472	$19,296

Financial Aid

77%

Receive Any Aid

50%

Receive Pell Grants

Take Out Loans

$7,131

Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income	Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000	$4,445
$30,001 - $48,000	$6,140
$48,001 - $75,000	$4,066

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 112 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 65 grads/yr Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General 42 grads/yr Welding Technology/Welder 38 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 36 grads/yr Office Management and Supervision 35 grads/yr Early Childhood Education and Teaching 33 grads/yr Information Technology 31 grads/yr Accounting and Finance 29 grads/yr Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician 27 grads/yr Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician 26 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Safety Studies 23 grads/yr Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions, Other 22 grads/yr Culinary Arts/Chef Training 18 grads/yr Medical Office Management/Administration 15 grads/yr Outdoor Education 14 grads/yr Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism 13 grads/yr Medical/Clinical Assistant 13 grads/yr Carpentry/Carpenter 11 grads/yr Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer 9 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Southwestern Community College's top programs commonly pursue.

Postsecondary teachers, all other

$78k/yr 183,400 jobs

Chief executives

$206k/yr 309,400 jobs

Compensation and benefits managers

$140k/yr 20,900 jobs

Human resources managers

$140k/yr 221,900 jobs

Sales managers

$138k/yr 619,500 jobs

Managers, all other

$137k/yr 1,333,700 jobs

Training and development managers

$127k/yr 46,400 jobs

Industrial production managers

$121k/yr 241,900 jobs

Student Demographics

2,109

Total Students

63%

Women

37%

Traditional Age (18-24)

58%

Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 73%

Hispanic 11%

Black 2%

Asian 2%

Two or More 2%

🏠 Living Arrangements

Off-Campus (Renters) 58%

With Family 42%

🏘️ Rental Demand: ~1,215 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 42%

Hybrid (Some Online) 27%

Fully Online 31%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 37%

25-64 (Adult) 26%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Southwestern Community College?

Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution. Many schools with open enrollment or specialized programs do not report traditional acceptance rates.

How much does it cost to attend Southwestern Community College?

Tuition at Southwestern Community College is $5,472 for in-state students and $19,296 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $7,131.

What is the graduation rate at Southwestern Community College?

The graduation rate at Southwestern Community College is 54%. This graduation rate is below average. Consider factors like program type and student demographics when evaluating.

Is Southwestern Community College a good school?

Southwestern Community College has a Repit College Score of 57/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:

Outcomes (C+): Graduation and retention rates
Affordability (B+): Net cost and financial aid access
Resources (B): Class sizes and selectivity
Experience (D): Campus life and learning format
Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition

How many students attend Southwestern Community College?

Southwestern Community College has a total enrollment of 2,109 students.

Is there rental demand near Southwestern Community College?

Yes! Approximately 58% of students at Southwestern Community College live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 1,215 students who need rental housing near campus. This represents significant rental demand, which affects housing availability and pricing in the Sylva area.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Southwestern Community College — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →