Tri-County Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Murphy, North Carolina. It enrolls 472 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
70/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes61
Value57
Affordability49
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Tri-County Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Tri-County Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $7,799 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$7,799
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
29%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
0%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$2,636
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$8,780
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,488
Books & Supplies
$1,470
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,922
Total Cost of Attendance
$18,830
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$7,220
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,224
$48,001 – $75,000
$8,984
$75,001 – $110,000
$10,013
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,00025%percentile
$11,00075%percentile
What this means:
29% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.
Graduation Rate & Retention
22% of full-time students who enrolled at Tri-County Community College graduate within six years, and 70% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
22%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
70%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Tri-County Community College earn a median of $32,232 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$32,232
Earning > $25K
53%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$24,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$26,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
What this means:
Solid return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$4.1 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Tri-County Community College is home to 472 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 46% are first-generation college students, 59% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
472
Part-Time
59%
First-Generation
46%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 82.0%387
Hispanic 5.9%28
Other 4.9%23
Black 2.5%12
Asian 1.1%5
International 0.4%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Tri-County Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: RemoteMurphy, North Carolina
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
20%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Tri-County Community College offers
a varied set of programs:
23 distinct programs across
11 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Tri-County Community College is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$16,586
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$241,038
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$48,788
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
39 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
No Rank
39
100%
$48,788
Pros & Cons of Tri-County Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Tri-County Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Tri-County Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tri-County Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Tri-County Community College.
Is Tri-County Community College hard to get into?
Tri-County Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Tri-County Community College?
Tri-County Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Tri-County Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Tri-County Community College is $7,799 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Tri-County Community College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $32,232 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $7,799 per year. That's roughly 4.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Tri-County Community College known for?
Tri-County Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Vehicle Maintenance. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Tri-County Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Tri-County Community College are $32,232, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Tri-County Community College accredited?
Yes. Tri-County Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Tri-County Community College?
Tri-County Community College enrolls 472 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Tri-County Community College?
Tri-County Community College graduates 22% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Tri-County Community College a public or private college?
Tri-County Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Tri-County Community College located?
Tri-County Community College is located in Murphy, North Carolina.
What programs does Tri-County Community College offer?
Tri-County Community College offers 23 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Vehicle Maintenance.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Tri-County Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Tri-County Community College is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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