Isothermal Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 52% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $33,325 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $10,758 B
- 37% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,169
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 19.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.0 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $19.0 over 20 years. Net gain: $772,586.
What The Data Says
-
A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Every $1 invested returns $19.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Isothermal Community College
Isothermal Community College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,169
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Humanities, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Isothermal Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $10,758 a year after grants and scholarships — 37% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $33,325 ten years after enrolling — 18% below the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 76% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.58 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Isothermal Community College serves around 1,169 students, making it a cozy place for those seeking accessible education in Spindale, NC. This school appeals to individuals interested in practical fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Construction Trades, and Precision Production. These programs equip students with skills that are in demand, providing a solid foundation for entering the workforce.
Graduates here earn an average of $33,325 ten years after completing their studies. For many, this is a significant step up compared to what they might have earned without a degree. The affordability of Isothermal is a key point, with a net price of $10,758 after financial aid. Additionally, 34% of students receive Pell Grants, which can help ease financial burdens and make college more attainable for those from lower-income backgrounds.
In practical terms, Isothermal offers a supportive environment for students who thrive in hands-on learning settings. While the graduation rate is 52%, those who do finish often find themselves on better financial footing. With its focus on career-oriented programs and a manageable cost structure, this college can be a sensible choice for those looking to improve their prospects without taking on excessive debt.
Can I Get In?
How selective Isothermal Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Isothermal Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Spindale, North Carolina, Isothermal Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 52%.
- Retention Rate
- 71%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 33%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,584
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.48
- First-Gen Students
- 51%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Isothermal Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Isothermal Community College is $6,638, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $10,758. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,108 after need-based grants.
- In-State Tuition
- $2,030
- Out-of-State
- $6,638
- Avg Net Price
- $10,758
- Pell Grant Rate
- 34%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 0%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $10,108
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,605
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,592
- Family Income $110K+
- $14,687
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Isothermal Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Isothermal Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Isothermal Community College report median earnings of $33,325, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $28,218
- 8 Years
- $28,966
- 10 Years
- $33,325
- Earning > $25K
- 37%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (60)
- 25%
- 100% (60)
- 25%
- 100% (60)
- 25%
- 100% (60)
- 25%
How Isothermal Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Isothermal Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Isothermal Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,758/year ($43,032 total). Graduates earn $33,325 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $815,618 in total earnings — a net gain of $772,586 (19.0× your investment).. With a 52% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $43,032
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $815,618
- Net Return
- $772,586
- ROI Multiple
- 19.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $10,758
- Graduation Rate
- 52%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Isothermal Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Isothermal Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.00%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 14.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 6.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $54,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.00%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 6.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 14.6%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $74,182
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-3,196,869
Top Programs
The fields Isothermal Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 23% $68,105 early-career
- Humanities 18%
- Business & Marketing 16%
- Criminal Justice 11%
- Construction Trades 8%
- Culinary & Personal Services 5%
- Computer Science & IT 3%
- Precision Production 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Isothermal Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Isothermal Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Spindale, North Carolina, Isothermal Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 52%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Isothermal Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Isothermal Community College is $6,638, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $10,758. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,108 after need-based grants.
Is Isothermal Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Isothermal Community College report median earnings of $33,325, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Isothermal Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Isothermal Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.00%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 14.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 6.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $54,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Isothermal Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Isothermal Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.58, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Isothermal Community College.
- Carteret Community CollegeMorehead City, NC · Close peer45% grad $33,357 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Orange Technical College-South CampusOrlando, FL · Close peer40% grad $33,350 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Edgecombe Community CollegeTarboro, NC · Close peer45% grad $33,267 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Mountain Empire Community CollegeBig Stone Gap, VA · Close peer51% grad $32,622 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Francis Tuttle Technology CenterOklahoma City, OK · Close peer57% grad $32,996 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Arkansas State University-Mountain HomeMountain Home, AR · Close peer47% grad $34,238 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Isothermal Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Isothermal Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.58, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note