McDowell Technical Community College

54 College Drive
Marion, NC 28752-8728

Tel: (828)652-6021

The mission of McDowell Technical Community College to provide high-quality, comprehensive educational opportunities and services which fulfill the personal development, training and employment needs of the residents, businesses, and industries in McDowell County and surrounding areas. The College acknowledges and values cultural, gender, racial, and ethnic diversity and seeks to contribute to the maximum development of the individual and community through open door admissions and readily accessible and affordable programs. The college is dedicated to providing quality educational programs and services accessible to students on-campus, off-campus, or through distance learning. These educational programs and services are offered, within the limits of a available resources, regardless of disability or previous educational attainments.

School Highlights

McDowell Technical Community College serves 1,056 students (38% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 13:1 is lower than the state community college average of 19:1.
Minority enrollment is 7% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is more than the state average of 38%.
McDowell Technical Community College is the only community colleges within Mcdowell County, NC.
The nearest community college is Western Piedmont Community College (16.00 miles away).

	McDowell Technical Community College	(NC) Community College Avg.
Institution Level	At least 2 but less than 4 years	At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control	Public	Public
Total Faculty	82 staff	139 staff

The student population of 1,056 has declined by 23% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 13:1 has stayed the same over five years.
The school's diversity score of 0.13 is less than the state average of 0.56. The school's diversity has declined by 40% over five years.

Total Enrollment	1,056 students	2,380 students

Student : Teacher Ratio	13:1	19:1

# Full-Time Students	397 students	1,019 students

# Part-Time Students	659 students	1,361 students


% American Indian/Alaskan	-	1%

% Asian	1%	2%

% Hispanic	2%	6%

% Black	3%	21%

% White	93%	62%


Diversity Score	0.13	0.56

College Completion Rate	12%	16%

Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)	$25,900	$27,500

The public in-state tuition of $1,776 is less than the state average of $3,911. The in-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $6,384 is less than the state average of $9,514. The out-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.

In-State Tuition Fees	$1,776	$3,911

Out-State Tuition Fees	$6,384	$9,514

% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid	94%	78%

Median Debt for Graduates	$4,634	$10,500

Median Debt for Dropouts	$6,500	$6,092

Source: 2016 (or latest year available) IPEDS

In 1964, McDowell Technical Community College was established as the Marion-McDowell Industrial Education Center, located in downtown Marion, N.C. near the corner of State Street and South Garden Street. M-MIEC operated as a satellite unit of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Institute until September, 1967. The school moved to permanent facilities on a 31-acre site at the intersection of Interstate 40 and Highway 226 in Marion in 1970. Today, McDowell Technical Community College offers Associate Degrees, Diplomas, and/or Certificates in more than 30 curriculum programs. The College also offers classes in many areas of Continuing Education. MTCC currently serves more than 6,800 students per year with some type of education and training. The college offers a number of Occupational and Continuing Education Services, including Teleconference Workshops, Computer Training, and a variety of specialized programs designed to enhance an individual's employability, to help him or her learn a new career, to establish a pattern of growth and stability in business and industry, and to help individuals stay abreast of trends in their chosen field. McDowell Technical Community College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees.