C
Average
Score: 52/100
Overall (traditional)
F
Outcome Rating
29/100 · earnings-weighted

Tri-County Community College

2-Year Public
📍 Murphy, North Carolina 28906
ℹ️
Rating Context: ⚠️ Limited Data Available. Some metrics for this institution are incomplete or unavailable, which may affect the overall grade. Consider researching this school directly for the most current information.

Suggested Focus: For this type of institution, we recommend prioritizing the Outcomes Score (C+) which measures graduation and job placement rates — the most relevant metrics for career programs.
Graduation Rate: 54%
Outcomes
C+
58/100
Affordability
A
87/100
Resources
C+
60/100
Experience
F
27/100
Prestige
F
21/100

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

969
Total Enrollment
54%
Graduation Rate
64%
Retention Rate
14.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
N/A
Acceptance Rate
$5,423
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Tri-County Community College ▼

43% 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
$279,159
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,650
1-Year Change
+0.2%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

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

$32,232
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$27,374
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
54.3%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
28.9%
Students receiving Pell grants

Earnings rank: 10th 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 Tri-County 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.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$69,455$83,880+4%#330 of 962#237—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$23,979$41,496-6%#575 of 947#431—
Business Administration, Management and Operations—$33,155-32%#523 of 547#511—

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 Tri-County Community College Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $279,159
  • Avg rent near campus: $1,650/mo
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 37333 (5.3% cap, Farner)

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Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $2,304 $8,448

Financial Aid

78%
Receive Any Aid
70%
Receive Pell Grants
0%
Take Out Loans
$5,423
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$4,190
$30,001 - $48,000$4,137
$48,001 - $75,000$6,037

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 180 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 13 grads/yr Welding Technology/Welder 13 grads/yr Information Technology 8 grads/yr Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician 8 grads/yr Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist 7 grads/yr Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other 6 grads/yr Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) 6 grads/yr Accounting and Finance 6 grads/yr Electrician 6 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 5 grads/yr Early Childhood Education and Teaching 5 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Safety Studies 4 grads/yr Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General 4 grads/yr General Studies 4 grads/yr Medical Office Management/Administration 3 grads/yr Pre-Nursing Studies 3 grads/yr Medical/Clinical Assistant 2 grads/yr Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions, Other 2 grads/yr Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection, Other 2 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Tri-County Community College's top programs commonly pursue.

Postsecondary teachers, all other
$78k/yr 183,400 jobs
Registered nurses
$94k/yr 3,391,000 jobs
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
$80k/yr 91,600 jobs
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
$51k/yr 457,300 jobs
Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders
$47k/yr 38,900 jobs
Computer and information systems managers
$171k/yr 667,100 jobs
Computer and information research scientists
$141k/yr 40,300 jobs
Database architects
$136k/yr 66,900 jobs

Student Demographics

969
Total Students
59%
Women
31%
Traditional Age (18-24)
43%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 81%
Hispanic 9%
Black 2%
Asian 1%
Two or More 3%

🏠 Living Arrangements

Off-Campus (Renters) 43%
With Family 57%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~416 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 27%
Hybrid (Some Online) 32%
Fully Online 41%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 31%
25-64 (Adult) 19%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Tri-County 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 Tri-County Community College?
Tuition at Tri-County Community College is $2,304 for in-state students and $8,448 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $5,423.
What is the graduation rate at Tri-County Community College?
The graduation rate at Tri-County Community College is 54%. This graduation rate is below average. Consider factors like program type and student demographics when evaluating.
Is Tri-County Community College a good school?
Tri-County Community College has a Repit College Score of 52/100 (Grade: C). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (A): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (F): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (F): Reputation and recognition
Note: As a smaller institution, we recommend focusing on the Outcomes score when evaluating this school.
How many students attend Tri-County Community College?
Tri-County Community College has a total enrollment of 969 students.
Is there rental demand near Tri-County Community College?
Yes! Approximately 43% of students at Tri-County Community College live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 416 students who need rental housing near campus. This represents significant rental demand, which affects housing availability and pricing in the Murphy area.

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

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Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology