Isothermal Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Spindale, North Carolina. It enrolls 1,169 students (a small, tight-knit 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
65/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes58
Value42
Affordability48
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Isothermal 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 Isothermal 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 $10,758 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$10,758
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
34%
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)
$2,030
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$6,638
Room & Board (off-campus)
$19,885
Books & Supplies
$1,600
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$9,395
Total Cost of Attendance
$18,132
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
$10,108
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,605
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,592
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,928
Over $110,000
$14,687
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.
$2,62125%percentile
$6,00075%percentile
What this means:
34% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.
Graduation Rate & Retention
26% of full-time students who enrolled at Isothermal Community College graduate within six years, and 67% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
26%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
67%
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 Isothermal Community College earn a median of $33,325 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$33,325
Earning > $25K
55%
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
$23,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$33,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,600, about 29% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Solid return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$3.1 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Isothermal Community College is home to 1,169 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students, 54% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
1,169
Part-Time
54%
First-Generation
51%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 70.7%826
Black 11.0%129
Hispanic 9.3%109
Other 5.2%61
International 0.5%6
Asian 0.4%5
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Isothermal Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantSpindale, North Carolina
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
26%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Isothermal Community College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
45 distinct programs across
14 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 Isothermal Community College is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,787
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$15M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$58,298
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
57 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
57
100%
$58,298
Pros & Cons of Isothermal Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Isothermal Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
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, Isothermal Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Isothermal Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Isothermal Community College.
Is Isothermal Community College hard to get into?
Isothermal Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Isothermal Community College?
Isothermal Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Isothermal Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Isothermal Community College is $10,758 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Isothermal Community College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $33,325 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $10,758 per year. That's roughly 3.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Isothermal Community College known for?
Isothermal Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Isothermal Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Isothermal Community College are $33,325, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Isothermal Community College accredited?
Yes. Isothermal Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Isothermal Community College?
Isothermal Community College enrolls 1,169 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Isothermal Community College?
Isothermal Community College graduates 26% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Isothermal Community College a public or private college?
Isothermal Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Isothermal Community College located?
Isothermal Community College is located in Spindale, North Carolina.
What programs does Isothermal Community College offer?
Isothermal Community College offers 45 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Isothermal Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Isothermal Community College is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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