Tri-County Community College Tuition & Completion (2026)
Tri-County Community College is a public community college in Murphy, North Carolina, enrolling about 472 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $7,799 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $2,636. Student demographics in federal data include White (82.0%) and Hispanic or Latino (5.9%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $2,636
- 2024 Average Net Price: $7,799 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 472 40.9% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 54.29%
- Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional
- First-Generation Students: 45.9%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 2.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 18.4%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,409
- Room & Board: $17,488 annual estimate
Tri-County Community College: what the data shows
Common questions about Tri-County Community College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Tri-County Community College?
Tri-County Community College is located in Murphy, NC (ZIP 28906).
Is Tri-County Community College public or private?
Tri-County Community College is a Public institution.
How much does Tri-County Community College cost?
Published tuition: $2,636 in-state, $8,780 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $7,799.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $7,220 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $7,224 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $8,984 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $10,013 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $10,544.
How big is Tri-County Community College?
Total enrollment: 472 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,409 students.
About 41% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Tri-County Community College?
150%-time completion rate: 54.29%.
First-year retention: 76.2%.
What do graduates of Tri-County Community College earn?
Median earnings: $27,374 six years after entry; $32,232 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
28.90% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Tri-County Community College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (180 completions)
- Welding Technology/Welder (13 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (13 completions)
- Information Technology (8 completions)
- Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician (8 completions)
- Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist (7 completions)
- Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other (6 completions)
- Electrician (6 completions)
- Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) (6 completions)
- Accounting and Finance (6 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Tri-County Community College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 54.29%; median earnings $32,232 at 10 years; net price $7,799. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$2,636
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Tri-County Community College was $2,636.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$7,799
2024 Value
In 2024 Tri-County Community College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $7,799.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$31,196 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$7,799 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$10,544 4-Year In-State Tuition
$35,120 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$17,488 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,470 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$21,594 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$86,376 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Tri-County Community College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
28.90% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
0.00% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
Not reported
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Tri-County Community College was not reported in the College Scorecard extract for this institution.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Tri-County Community College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $2,346 | $8,490 | $7,003 |
| 2014 | $2,363 | $8,507 | $7,358 |
| 2015 | $2,363 | $8,507 | $8,735 |
| 2016 | $2,363 | $8,507 | $7,875 |
| 2017 | $2,363 | $8,507 | $7,418 |
| 2018 | $2,363 | $8,507 | $6,409 |
| 2019 | $2,363 | $8,507 | $7,431 |
| 2020 | $2,363 | $8,507 | $6,156 |
| 2021 | $2,363 | $8,507 | $6,334 |
| 2022 | $2,363 | $8,507 | $4,721 |
| 2023 | $2,363 | $8,507 | $4,584 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Tri-County Community College reported total enrollment of about 472 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 31% male and 69% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (82.0%), Hispanic or Latino (5.9%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (3.2%). About 28.90% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 45.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
40.9% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Tri-County Community College in 2024 is 472 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,409 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
76.2%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 82.0%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
44.29% 100% Completion Time
54.29% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 44.29% of students graduating from Tri-County Community College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 38% male / 62% female
- Welding Technology/Welder: 85% male / 15% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 15% male / 85% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Tri-County Community College.
Return on Investment
$32,232 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
933.21% Return on Investment
Financial value analysis for Tri-County Community College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 25 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 180 completions
2. Welding Technology/Welder: 13 completions
3. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 13 completions
4. Information Technology: 8 completions
5. Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician: 8 completions
6. Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist: 7 completions
7. Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other: 6 completions
8. Electrician: 6 completions
9. Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic): 6 completions
Most popular programs at Tri-County Community College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Tri-County Community College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Tri-County Community College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 18.4%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $5,534
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $9,263
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Tri-County Community College is a public institution located in Murphy, NC, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Welding Technology/Welder, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. Enrollment is approximately 472 students. Student body composition includes White (82.0%), Hispanic or Latino (5.9%), Race/ethnicity unknown (3.2%). The 150%-time completion rate is 54.29%. Approximately 28.90% of students receive Pell Grants. About 45.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional
Location
Murphy, NC 28906
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Tri-County Community College provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Tri-County Community College located?
Tri-County Community College is located in Murphy, NC.
How much does Tri-County Community College cost?
Reported tuition is $2,636 and average net price is $7,799 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $17,488 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Tri-County Community College?
Tri-County Community College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,409 students, White (82.0%), Hispanic or Latino (5.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Tri-County Community College?
About 45.9% of students at Tri-County Community College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Tri-County Community College earn?
Median earnings are $27,374 six years after entry and $32,232 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Tri-County Community College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 54.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
Is Tri-County Community College public or private?
Tri-County Community College is a public institution located in Murphy, NC.
Is Tri-County Community College an HBCU?
No. Tri-County Community College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Tri-County Community College a tribal college?
No. Tri-County Community College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Tri-County Community College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Tri-County Community College does not meet that proxy (reported share 5.9%).
Is Tri-County Community College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Tri-County Community College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- North Carolina college costs
- North Carolina colleges by ROI
- North Carolina trade schools profile
- Southeast regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in North Carolina
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.