Southwestern Community College is a public community college located in Sylva, NC. It offers 73 programs for degree/certificate. (Of that, the distance learning opportunity (online degrees/courses) is given to 18 programs).

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

The 2025 tuition & fees of Southwestern Community College is $4,112 for North Carolina residents and $13,184 for out-of-state students. Its tuition & fees is more expensive than that of North Carolina public community colleges' average ($8,446).

The school has 2,157 students, which is lower than North Carolina community collleges' average (3,451). In addition, 735 students have enrolled online exclusively. The students to faculty ratio is 10 to 1, which is lower than the average ratio (14 to 1) of North Carolina community colleges.

2025 Tuition & Fees

The following table shows the 2024-2025 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.

2025 Cost Of Attendance - Southwestern CC
North Carolina ResidentsOut-of-State
Tuition & Fees$4,112$13,184
Books & Supplies$2,232
Off-Campus Living Costs$18,975
Average Financial Aid$4,442
Cost of Attendance$25,319$34,391
After Financial Aid$20,877$29,949
Southwestern CC Tuition Comparison to National and State Average
North Carolina ResidentsOut-of-State Students
Southwestern Community College$4,112$13,184
Public Community Colleges in North Carolina$2,561$8,446
Public Community Colleges in U.S.$5,207$8,749

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 Programs117NOT OFFERED
Total Programs4132NOT 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 Technology4 completers
 7 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Education program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Cosmetology/Cosmetologist10 completers
 9 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Culinary Arts/Chef Training1 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Legal Studies program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Educational Leadership and AdministrationNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Early Childhood Education and Teaching3 completers
 24 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Liberal Arts and Sciences, Humanities program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Legal Assistant/ParalegalNOT OFFERED 1 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal StudiesNOT OFFERED 97 completers
 NOT OFFERED
General StudiesNOT OFFERED 4 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, and Firefighting program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Outdoor EducationNOT OFFERED 3 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Construction Trades program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Criminal Justice/Safety StudiesNOT OFFERED 7 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism4 completers
 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/Welder5 completers
 6 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Commercial and Advertising ArtNOT OFFERED 5 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Fine/Studio ArtsNOT OFFERED 2 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Business program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Dental Assisting/Assistant15 completers
 NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Medical Office Management/Administration4 completers
 4 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Health Information/Medical Records Technology/TechnicianNOT OFFERED 6 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Medical/Clinical AssistantNOT OFFERED 6 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Occupational Therapist AssistantNOT OFFERED 12 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Physical Therapy Technician/AssistantNOT OFFERED 11 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)NOT OFFERED 5 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Respiratory Care Therapy/TherapistNOT OFFERED 11 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Surgical Technology/TechnologistNOT OFFERED 7 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and Ultrasound TechnicianNOT OFFERED 9 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Radiologic Technology/Science - RadiographerNOT OFFERED 9 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling1 completers
 3 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (other)NOT OFFERED 7 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing OpticianNOT OFFERED 2 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage1 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Registered Nursing/Registered NurseNOT OFFERED 40 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (other)13 completers
 NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
What is Business program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Business Administration and Management9 completers
 16 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Office Management and Supervision3 completers
 5 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Accounting and Finance4 completers
 4 completers
 NOT OFFERED

Student Population

There are 2,157 students at Southwestern Community College including both full-time and part-time students. By gender, 787 male students and 1,322 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
Total2,1095441,565
Male Students787192595
Female Students1,322352970

Distance Learning (Online Degree/Program) Enrollment

Of the 2,157 total students, 1,381 students enrolled through distance learning (735 students enrolled exclusively and 646 enrolled in some online courses).

Distance Learning Enrollment Distribution
Total Enrollment2,157
Enrolled Exclusively in Online Courses735
Enrolled in Some But Not All Online Courses646
Not Enrolled In Any Online Courses776

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 (2024-2025) »In-State$4,112
Out-of-State$13,184
Student Population »2,157 Total Enrollment
Graduation Rate »53%
Transfer-out Rate6%
Retention Rate75% (Full-time)
52% (Part-time)
Average Financial Aid »$4,442
Students to Faculty10:1 (10.00%)