Southwestern Community College is a public community college located in Sylva, NC. It offers 81 programs for degree/certificate. (Of that, the distance learning opportunity (online degrees/courses) is given to 16 programs).

It is accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

The 2024 tuition & fees of Southwestern Community College is $5,806 for North Carolina residents and $19,630 for out-of-state students. Its tuition & fees is more expensive than that of North Carolina public community colleges' average ($8,473).

The school has 2,256 students, which is lower than North Carolina community collleges' average (3,115). In addition, 735 students have enrolled online exclusively. The students to faculty ratio is 10 to 1, which is lower than the average ratio (13 to 1) of North Carolina community colleges.

2024 Tuition & Fees

The following table shows the 2023-2024 tuition & fees, books & supplies, and living costs at Southwestern Community College. Then, we compare its costs to North Carolina community colleges and all U.S. community colleges.

In addition, the chart shows tuition trends over the last 5 years. You can check more comprehensive tuition information on the cost of attendance page.

2024 Cost Of Attendance -
North Carolina ResidentsOut-of-State
Tuition & Fees$5,806$19,630
Books & Supplies$1,460
Off-Campus Living Costs$16,710
Average Financial Aid$5,693
Cost of Attendance$23,976$37,800
After Financial Aid$18,283$32,107
Tuition Comparison to National and State Average
North Carolina ResidentsOut-of-State Students
Southwestern Community College$5,806$19,630
Public Community Colleges in North Carolina$2,542$8,473
Public Community Colleges in U.S.$4,992$8,639

Offered Degrees/Programs By Area of Study

Southwestern Community College offers Certificate and Associate's programs. The following table summarizes the number of offered programs by degree types.

Offered Programs and Online Availability
CertificateAssociate'sBachelor's
Online Programs124NOT OFFERED
Total Programs4239NOT OFFERED

The following tables list each major program along with offered degrees and online availability. The number in each column indicates the number of awarded degrees and/or certificates of the program. It includes completers through on-campus classes, partially online classes, and only online classes.

What is Personal and Culinary Services program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Information TechnologyNOT OFFERED 9 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Education program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Cosmetology/Cosmetologist7 completers
 3 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Culinary Arts/Chef Training2 completers
 3 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Engineering Technology program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Educational Leadership and AdministrationNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Kindergarten/Preschool Education and TeachingNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Early Childhood Education and Teaching7 completers
 16 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Work and Family Studies program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Civil Engineering Technology/TechnicianNOT OFFERED 5 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Electrical, Electronic and Communications Engineering Technology/TechnicianNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering Technology/TechnicianNOT OFFERED 1 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Surveying Technology/SurveyingNOT OFFERED 5 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Computer Engineering Technology/TechnicianNOT OFFERED 1 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Legal Studies program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Child DevelopmentNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
What is Liberal Arts and Sciences, Humanities program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Legal Assistant/ParalegalNOT OFFERED 3 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, and Firefighting program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Outdoor EducationNOT OFFERED 7 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Construction Trades program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Criminal Justice/Safety StudiesNOT OFFERED 3 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Cyber/Computer Forensics and CounterterrorismNOT OFFERED 6 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Mechanics and Repairers program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Carpentry/Carpenter NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
What is Visual and Performing Arts program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Welding Technology/Welder3 completers
 5 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Commercial and Advertising ArtNOT OFFERED 6 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Business program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Medical Office Management/Administration8 completers
 8 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Health Information/Medical Records Technology/TechnicianNOT OFFERED 11 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Medical/Clinical AssistantNOT OFFERED 1 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Occupational Therapist AssistantNOT OFFERED 8 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Physical Therapy Technician/AssistantNOT OFFERED 11 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)NOT OFFERED 8 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Respiratory Care Therapy/TherapistNOT OFFERED 10 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Surgical Technology/TechnologistNOT OFFERED 6 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and Ultrasound TechnicianNOT OFFERED 5 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Radiologic Technology/Science - RadiographerNOT OFFERED 10 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Clinical/Medical Laboratory TechnicianNOT OFFERED 5 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Phlebotomy Technician/PhlebotomistNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Pre-Nursing StudiesNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Substance Abuse/Addiction CounselingNOT OFFERED 3 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (other)NOT OFFERED 5 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing OpticianNOT OFFERED 2 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage8 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Registered Nursing/Registered NurseNOT OFFERED 25 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/AideNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
What is Business program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Business Administration and Management17 completers
 33 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Office Management and Supervision8 completers
 8 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Accounting 1 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Accounting and Finance3 completers
 19 completers
 NOT OFFERED

Student Population

There are 2,256 students at Southwestern Community College including both full-time and part-time students. By gender, 911 male students and 1,593 female students are attending the school.

The following table shows the total number of students by gender and attending status at the school. You can check more enrollment information of the school.

Student Population
TotalFull-TimePart-time
Total2,5046261,878
Male Students911223688
Female Students1,5934031,190

Distance Learning (Online Degree/Program) Enrollment

Of the 2,256 total students, 1,357 students enrolled through distance learning (735 students enrolled exclusively and 622 enrolled in some online courses).

Distance Learning Enrollment Distribution
Total Enrollment2,256
Enrolled Exclusively in Online Courses735
Enrolled in Some But Not All Online Courses622
Not Enrolled In Any Online Courses899

School Profile and Academic Overview

The following table shows directory information and summarizes important academic and admission characteristics for Southwestern Community College.

Directory Information and Key Academic Statistics
Type2-4 year, public
Address447 College Drive, Sylva, NC
Phone828-339-4000
Tuition & Fees (2023-2024) »In-State$5,806
Out-of-State$19,630
Student Population »2,256 Total Enrollment
Graduation Rate »45%
Transfer-out Rate7%
Retention Rate58% (Full-time)
37% (Part-time)
Average Financial Aid »$5,693
Students to Faculty10:1 (10.00%)