McDowell Technical Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 53% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $33,035 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $7,784 B+
- 55% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 608
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 20.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.8 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $20.8 over 20 years. Net gain: $615,665.
What The Data Says
-
A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Every $1 invested returns $20.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About McDowell Technical Community College
McDowell Technical 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 Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 608
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Culinary & Personal Services
Why students choose McDowell Technical 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 $7,784 a year after grants and scholarships — 55% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $33,035 ten years after enrolling — 19% below the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 99% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.54 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
McDowell Technical Community College is a great fit for students looking for a supportive environment and practical programs. With an enrollment of 608, this school focuses on areas like Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Culinary & Personal Services, and Precision Production. This variety allows students to pursue hands-on learning and gain skills that are directly applicable in the workforce.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $33,035 within ten years, which provides a decent starting point for building a career. Affordability plays a significant role here, as the net price after financial aid is around $7,784. This means that students are often able to enter the job market without being weighed down by excessive debt, giving them a solid chance to move up in their careers.
For those considering McDowell, it's important to know that around 27% of students receive Pell Grants, which can help ease the financial burden. This school tends to attract individuals who thrive in community-centric settings and appreciate a focus on practical education. With lower debt loads and a commitment to accessible learning, we can see why this institution is a viable option for many.
Rankings
- #12 Best Online Computer Science Programs in North Carolina
- #12 Best Online Nursing Programs in North Carolina
- #12 Best Online Education Programs in North Carolina
- #13 Best Online Business Programs in North Carolina
- #14 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in North Carolina
- #36 Best Education Colleges in North Carolina
- #43 Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina
- #48 Best Nursing Colleges in North Carolina
Can I Get In?
How selective McDowell Technical 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 McDowell Technical Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
McDowell Technical Community College, located in Marion, North Carolina, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.
- Retention Rate
- 80%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 22%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,780
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 7:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.40
- First-Gen Students
- 50%
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 McDowell Technical Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at McDowell Technical Community College is $6,640, 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 $7,784. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,084 after need-based grants.
- In-State Tuition
- $2,032
- Out-of-State
- $6,640
- Avg Net Price
- $7,784
- Pell Grant Rate
- 27%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 0%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,084
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $7,478
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $9,301
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 McDowell Technical 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 McDowell Technical Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of McDowell Technical Community College report median earnings of $33,035, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,755
- 8 Years
- $31,195
- 10 Years
- $33,035
- Earning > $25K
- 45%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (25)
- 34%
- 100% (25)
- 34%
- 100% (25)
- 34%
- 100% (25)
- 34%
How McDowell 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 McDowell Technical Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, McDowell Technical Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $7,784/year ($31,136 total). Graduates earn $33,035 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $646,801 in total earnings — a net gain of $615,665 (20.8× your investment).. With a 53% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $31,136
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $646,801
- Net Return
- $615,665
- ROI Multiple
- 20.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $7,784
- Graduation Rate
- 53%
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 McDowell Technical Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
McDowell Technical 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 0.16%, a more modest figure. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 16.8% 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 1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $52,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.16%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 1.0%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 16.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $70,922
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $794,234
- Investment Income
- $28,355
Top Programs
The fields McDowell Technical 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.
- Humanities 32%
- Health Professions 20% $65,959 early-career
- Business & Marketing 10%
- Culinary & Personal Services 10%
- Precision Production 8%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 4%
- Education 3%
- Criminal Justice 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 McDowell Technical 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
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CAerospace Engineer$130,720 · 6% growthResilient 72
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into McDowell Technical Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
McDowell Technical Community College, located in Marion, North Carolina, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend McDowell Technical Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at McDowell Technical Community College is $6,640, 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 $7,784. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,084 after need-based grants.
Is McDowell Technical Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of McDowell Technical Community College report median earnings of $33,035, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does McDowell Technical Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
McDowell Technical 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 0.16%, a more modest figure. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 16.8% 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 1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $52,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is McDowell Technical 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 McDowell Technical Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.54, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.10), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to McDowell Technical Community College.
- Glen Oaks Community CollegeCentreville, MI · Close peer40% grad $37,540 earnWhy: similar size
- Southeastern Community CollegeWhiteville, NC · Close peer47% grad $30,284 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Tri-County Community CollegeMurphy, NC · Close peer54% grad $32,232 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of South Carolina-UnionUnion, SC · Close peer43% grad $33,699 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Pierpont Community and Technical CollegeFairmont, WV · Close peer40% grad $35,132 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Belmont CollegeSt Clairsville, OH · Close peer41% grad $35,329 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is McDowell Technical 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 McDowell Technical Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.54, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.10), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note