McDowell Technical Community College
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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
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 school reports a graduation rate of roughly 53%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending McDowell Technical Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $6,640 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $7,784 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,084 after need-based grants.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
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; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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.
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 genuine 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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields McDowell Technical Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for McDowell Technical Community College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
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 school reports a graduation rate of roughly 53%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend McDowell Technical Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending McDowell Technical Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $6,640 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $7,784 for families who qualify for aid. 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; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
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 genuine 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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 0.54 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.10), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely 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.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 0.54 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.10), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note