McDowell Technical Community College

54 College Drive
Marion, NC 28752
Top-Ranked (2026-27): View Rankings
  • 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 1,249 students (22% of students are full-time).
The college's student-teacher ratio of 16:1 is lower than the state community college average of 21:1.
Minority enrollment is 25% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 50%.

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • Enrollment: 1,249 students
  • In-state tuition: $1,776
  • Out-state tuition: $6,384
  • Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
  • Minority enrollment: 25%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Top Rankings

McDowell Technical Community College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in North Carolina for:

Category
Attribute
Affordability

School Overview

The teacher population of 79 teachers has declined by 37% over five years.
McDowell Technical Community College
(NC) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associate's Colleges
Associate's Colleges
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Year Founded
1967
Total Faculty
79 staff
129 staff
School Calendar
AccreditationAccred.
Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Student Body

The student population of McDowell Technical Community College has grown by 19% over five years.
The student-teacher ratio of 16:1 has increased from 9:1 over five years.
The McDowell Technical Community College diversity score of 0.42 is less than the state average of 0.68. The school's diversity has grown by 31% over five years.
Total Enrollment
1,249 students
2,143 students

Showing 2012–2025. View full 19-year historical data

Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
21:1
# Full-Time Students
271 students
650 students

Showing 2012–2025. View full 19-year historical data

# Part-Time Students
978 students
1,493 students

Showing 2012–2025. View full 19-year historical data

# Enrollment Undergraduate
1,249 students
1,887 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
271 students
650 students

Showing 2013–2025. View full 19-year historical data

# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
978 students
1,522 students
% Asian
1%
3%

Showing 2008–2025. View full 19-year historical data

% Hispanic
11%
14%

Showing 2010–2025. View full 19-year historical data

% Black
4%
22%

Showing 2008–2025. View full 19-year historical data

% White
75%
50%

Showing 2010–2025. View full 19-year historical data

% Two or more races
2%
3%
% Unknown races
6%
6%
Diversity Score
0.42
0.68

Showing 2011–2025. View full 19-year historical data

College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
45%
37%

Showing 2015–2025. View full 19-year historical data

Median Earnings 10 Years After Entry (measured in 2022-2023, in 2024 dollars)
$36,207
$38,789

Points are in the dollars of their own College Scorecard release, and the colleges behind the state line differ by period. The lines do not show inflation-adjusted growth.

Tuition & Financial Aid

The public in-state tuition of $1,776 is less than the state average of $3,915. The in-state tuition has declined by 7% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $6,384 is less than the state average of $9,508. The out-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$1,776
$3,915
Out-State Tuition Fees
$6,384
$9,508
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
59%
79%

Showing 2013–2025. View full 19-year historical data

Median Debt for Graduates
$4,634
$10,500
Median Debt for Dropouts
$6,500
$6,000
Source: 2025 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

School Notes

  • 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does McDowell Technical Community College cost?
McDowell Technical Community College's tuition is approximately $1,776 for In-State students and $6,384 for Out-State students.
What is McDowell Technical Community College's ranking?
McDowell Technical Community College ranks among the top 20% of community college in North Carolina for: Least expensive tuition.

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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • Enrollment: 1,249 students
  • In-state tuition: $1,776
  • Out-state tuition: $6,384
  • Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
  • Minority enrollment: 25%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

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