The state of North Carolina has five million people employed in the civilian workforce (those who don’t work for the government). Employment has been increasing since late 2021 and had previously been increasing prior to the pandemic. The unemployment rate was approaching 5% but has been decreasing since the last quarter of 2021 and is now at 3.5% Most industries have reported an increase in employment, with business and finance, manufacturing, and construction seeing the largest increases. The median income for a North Carolina resident is $28,836, while families make an average of $54,602.
Now, while these all might seem like dry, unimportant numbers, it’s important to understand the economy of the state in which you will be living and working, at least a little bit. An upward or downward trend in an industry may change your plans when it comes to college. Make sure that you know what’s going on in your industry of choice before signing on to complete a degree in that field.
How much is college tuition in North Carolina? For the 2020-2021 academic year, in-state tuition for students in North Carolina was $3,380 and out-of-state students paid $10,851 for tuition. For graduate students, in-state tuition was $8,195 and out-of-state students paid $21,934. North Carolina’s most expensive school for undergraduates is Duke University, with tuition costs of $60,244. And the least expensive school for undergraduates in North Carolina is the Apex School of Theology at $5,100. For graduate school, Duke University again tops the highest tuition at $60,244 and Catawba College has the lowest at $32,380.
How many students are enrolled at colleges and universities in North Carolina? As of the 2020-2021 academic school year, there were 564,470 students enrolled in North Carolina colleges and universities. Undergraduate students were the majority, with 486,732 enrolled in undergraduate programs, and the remaining 77,738 students attended graduate school. There are more students enrolled full-time than part time in the state, 305,181 to 213,086, respectively, and the majority of students in both undergraduate and graduate programs are female.
How many students attend online classes? For the 2020-2021 academic year, 261,744 students attended classes exclusively online, and another 200,785 took at least one online course during their education. The majority of online class takers were undergraduate students.
What are some of the most popular degrees to get online? Some of the more popular programs include Business, Criminal Justice, Education, Finance, and Healthcare.
Our School Rankings Methodology
We use a particular set of criteria when creating our rankings. Some of the factors we consider include the following.
Admission Rate: This rate shows how competitive a school is. High admission rates mean it’s easier to be accepted, while a lower rate means the school is more selective of its students. Community colleges are often easier to get into than four-year colleges, but even they can have strict criteria for admission.
Graduation Rate: We check the length of time students need to complete programs and whether that timeframe is within the standard four to six years for an undergraduate degree. Most students complete their degree programs in 4-5 years but needing six or more years to finish is not completely out of the ordinary, especially for part-time students.
Net Price: This is the total amount a student will have to pay out of pocket for their education. This amount is the balance of tuition and fees after grants, scholarships, and work study credits have been applied.
Online Availability: Whether courses and programs can be completed online either partially or completely is considered.
Retention Rate: We evaluate how many students return after their first year of classes.
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: The smaller the ratio, the smaller the classes and the greater chance for instructor interaction. Some students prefer smaller classes, while other students prefer larger ones, and the student-to-faculty ratio indicates which is the case.
What are the Best Online Associate & Community College Programs in North Carolina?
The best online community college in North Carolina will provide some important key elements:
Can the programs be transferred to other schools? You’ll want to get a degree or take courses from a community college that is affiliated with at least one college or university in the area. This makes continuing your education a seamless experience since all of your courses will transfer to the other school and, if you get an associate degree, it applies toward your bachelor’s degree, and you’ll only need to complete two more years of school instead of starting over again.
Is the community college/program accredited? Going to a school that is regionally accredited and majoring in a program that is also accredited ensures you can get the most out of your education. Schools that are not regionally accredited might not be recognized by licensing boards or potential employers. Our listings only include schools with regionally accreditation and programs that can be transferred to a four-year college or university.
Montgomery Community College
College Type 2-year, Public
Student Population 679
Graduation Rate 58%
Net Price $12,447
Grads Salary $41,000
Wake Technical Community College
College Type 2-year, Public
Student Population 21,760
Graduation Rate 28%
Net Price $5,269
Grads Salary $37,589
Wayne Community College
College Type 2-year, Public
Student Population 2,701
Graduation Rate 48%
Net Price $5,900
Grads Salary $29,705
Blue Ridge Community College-Flat Rock
College Type 2-year, Public
Student Population 2,399
Graduation Rate 53%
Net Price $7,924
Grads Salary $29,100
Southwestern Community College-Sylva
College Type 2-year, Public
Student Population 2,259
Graduation Rate 45%
Net Price $5,562
Grads Salary $29,400
Haywood Community College
College Type 2-year, Public
Student Population 1,440
Graduation Rate 49%
Net Price $6,300
Grads Salary $28,400
Wilkes Community College
College Type 2-year, Public
Student Population 2,435
Graduation Rate 38%
Net Price $3,318
Grads Salary $29,500
Western Piedmont Community College
College Type 2-year, Public
Student Population 1,792
Graduation Rate 41%
Net Price $5,093
Grads Salary $29,721
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
One of the most important things to consider when choosing an online college and program is accreditation. Regional accreditation from one of the seven agencies is desired because it will enable a student to continue their education, qualify for certification and licensing exams meet the criteria many employers require (graduating from an accredited school). Here, you’ll find a variety of colleges offering online programs and courses in North Carolina. With only the best options listed, you can focus on the subjective differences that matter most to you, whether that is distance from your family or what degree and major options are available.
