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North Carolina Trade Schools

128 Colleges
$39,182 Avg 4-Year Tuition (In-State)
$28,467 Avg 4-Year Student Loan

North Carolina ranked #8 in the nation for trade school degrees handed out in 2021. Around 28,102 students received some type of diploma that year. Students who are able to take advantage of in-state tuition will only pay an average of $9,796 per year to get their degree at a college in North Carolina, while out of state students will pay an average of $14,905 per year.

An estimated 47% of college students in North Carolina take out loans, with the average loan amount being $7,117 per year.

Learn more about the most popular schools below:

#1

Wake Technical Community College

Raleigh, North Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$2,768 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
19% Freshmen Loans

There are 21,760 students at Wake Technical Community College in total, 6,944 are full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 17 to 1.

19% of Wake Technical Community College students take out loans to afford college costs. The typical student loan amount is $4,617 a year. The student loan default rate of 4.4% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from Wake Technical Community College is $33,317.

#2

Fayetteville Technical Community College

Fayetteville, North Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$2,564 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
51% Freshmen Loans

There are 10,932 students at FTCC in total, 3,975 are full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 15 to 1.

Roughly 51% of students at FTCC take out loans to pay for college. The average amount of student loans is $5,275 a year. The student loan default rate of 6.4% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

A typical bachelor’s-degree holder from this school earns an average of $25,238 during the early-career years.

#3

Guilford Technical Community College

Jamestown, North Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$2,319 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
25% Freshmen Loans

There are 4,146 full-time undergraduates at Guilford Technical Community College, and 10,821 students altogether. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 17 to 1.

Approximately 25% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The average amount of student loans is $4,870 a year. The school reports a student loan default rate of 6.4% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

Students who graduate from Guilford Technical Community College with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $26,813 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#4

Central Piedmont Community College

Charlotte, North Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$2,792 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
1% Freshmen Loans

The total student population at Central Piedmont Community College is 16,668, which includes 6,367 full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 16 to 1.

Roughly 1% of students at Central Piedmont Community College take out loans to pay for college. The typical student loan amount is $6,499 a year. Central Piedmont Community College has a 2.2% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

Students who graduate from Central Piedmont Community College with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $30,895 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#5

Forsyth Technical Community College

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$2,152 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
17% Freshmen Loans

There are 2,712 full-time undergraduates at Forsyth Tech, and 7,587 students altogether. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 11 to 1.

Approximately 17% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The average amount of student loans is $3,795 a year. Forsyth Tech has a 3.9% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

Students who graduate from Forsyth Tech with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $28,637 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#6

Pitt Community College

Winterville, North Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$1,940 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
12% Freshmen Loans

The total student population at Pitt Community College is 7,688, which includes 3,031 full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 15 to 1.

Approximately 12% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The average amount of student loans is $6,366 a year. The student loan default rate of 6.2% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

Students who graduate from Pitt Community College with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $29,200 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#7

Cape Fear Community College

Wilmington, North Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$2,748 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
7% Freshmen Loans

There are 8,680 students at CFCC in total, 3,054 are full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 14 to 1.

7% of CFCC students take out loans to afford college costs. The typical student loan amount is $6,423 a year. The school reports a student loan default rate of 4.1% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from CFCC is $29,090.

#8

Gaston College

Dallas, North Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$3,186 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

The total student population at Gaston College is 5,345, which includes 1,230 full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1.

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from Gaston College is $29,346.

#9

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, North Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$7,214 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
50% Freshmen Loans

There are 24,175 undergraduates at UNC Charlotte, of which 21,104 are full-time, and there are 30,146 students altogether. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 20 to 1.

About 79% of students who apply get accepted. Of the accepted students, 42% are men and 58% are women.

Approximately 50% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The average amount of student loans is $7,202 a year. The student loan default rate of 1.7% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from UNC Charlotte is $44,858.

#10

Coastal Carolina Community College

Jacksonville, North Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$2,462 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
1% Freshmen Loans

There are 3,571 students at Coastal Carolina Community College in total, 1,612 are full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 14 to 1.

Approximately 1% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The typical student loan amount is $10,000 a year. The student loan default rate of 9.5% is very similar to the national average of 10.8%.

A typical bachelor’s-degree holder from this school earns an average of $29,558 during the early-career years.

#11

Davidson County Community College

Thomasville, North Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$2,208 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
14% Freshmen Loans

There are 3,765 students at DCCC in total, 1,537 are full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 17 to 1.

Approximately 14% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The average amount of student loans is $7,024 a year. DCCC has a 5.4% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

Students who graduate from DCCC with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $30,350 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#12

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

Salisbury, North Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$2,024 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
1% Freshmen Loans

There are 7,109 students at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in total, 2,143 are full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 15 to 1.

Roughly 1% of students at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College take out loans to pay for college. The average amount of student loans is $4,140 a year. The school reports a student loan default rate of 2.3% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

Students who graduate from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $28,437 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#13

Wilkes Community College

Wilkesboro, North Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$2,572 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

There are 2,435 students at Wilkes Community College in total, 938 are full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1.

The student loan default rate of 8.6% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from Wilkes Community College is $29,035.

#14

Alamance Community College

Graham, North Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$2,498 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

There are 4,037 students at ACC in total, 1,352 are full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1.

A typical bachelor’s-degree holder from this school earns an average of $28,316 during the early-career years.

#15

Wayne Community College

Goldsboro, North Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$2,524 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
1% Freshmen Loans

There are 2,701 students at Wayne Community College in total, 977 are full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 12 to 1.

1% of Wayne Community College students take out loans to afford college costs. The average amount of student loans is $4,000 a year.

A typical bachelor’s-degree holder from this school earns an average of $30,318 during the early-career years.

#16

Catawba Valley Community College

Hickory, North Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$2,367 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
1% Freshmen Loans

There are 4,328 students at CVCC in total, 1,318 are full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 11 to 1.

Roughly 1% of students at CVCC take out loans to pay for college. The typical student loan amount is $6,560 a year. CVCC has a 4.8% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

Students who graduate from CVCC with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $30,261 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#17

Johnston Community College

Smithfield, North Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$2,657 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
2% Freshmen Loans

The total student population at Johnston Community College is 4,182, which includes 1,464 full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1.

Roughly 2% of students at Johnston Community College take out loans to pay for college. The typical student loan amount is $6,929 a year.

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from Johnston Community College is $30,652.

#18

East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$7,325 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
53% Freshmen Loans

There are 23,056 undergraduates at ECU, of which 18,886 are full-time, and there are 28,798 students altogether. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 18 to 1.

Around 94% of students who apply get accepted. Of the accepted students, 36% are men and 64% are women.

Approximately 53% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The average amount of student loans is $7,134 a year. The school reports a student loan default rate of 1.7% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

Students who graduate from ECU with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $43,995 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#19

Lenoir Community College

Kinston, North Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$2,568 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

There are 718 full-time undergraduates at Lenoir Community College, and 2,361 students altogether. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1.

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from Lenoir Community College is $26,823.

#20

NASCAR Technical Institute

Mooresville, North Carolina
Private for-profit Public vs. Private
78% Freshmen Loans

The total student population at NASCAR Technical Institute is 1,204, which includes 1,204 full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 53 to 1.

78% of NASCAR Technical Institute students take out loans to afford college costs. The typical student loan amount is $9,228 a year. The student loan default rate of 3.1% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from NASCAR Technical Institute is $46,572.

#21

Isothermal Community College

Spindale, North Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$2,030 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

The total student population at Isothermal Community College is 2,042, which includes 716 full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 12 to 1.

ICC has a 5.0% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

A typical bachelor’s-degree holder from this school earns an average of $26,124 during the early-career years.

#22

Randolph Community College

Asheboro, North Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$2,416 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
2% Freshmen Loans

There are 692 full-time undergraduates at Randolph Community College, and 2,548 students altogether. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1.

2% of Randolph Community College students take out loans to afford college costs. The average amount of student loans is $7,386 a year.

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from Randolph Community College is $27,946.

Public Public vs. Private
$2,537 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
2% Freshmen Loans

The total student population at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute is 3,845, which includes 1,442 full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 18 to 1.

Roughly 2% of students at CCCTI take out loans to pay for college. The typical student loan amount is $6,347 a year. The student loan default rate of 8.3% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from CCCTI is $27,394.

Public Public vs. Private
$2,832 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
6% Freshmen Loans

There are 1,916 full-time undergraduates at A-B Tech, and 6,601 students altogether. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 12 to 1.

Approximately 6% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The typical student loan amount is $5,730 a year. The school reports a student loan default rate of 5.9% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

Students who graduate from A-B Tech with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $30,001 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#25

Durham Technical Community College

Durham, North Carolina
Public Public vs. Private
$2,229 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State
6% Freshmen Loans

The total student population at Durham Technical Community College is 4,672, which includes 866 full-time undergraduates. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1.

Roughly 6% of students at Durham Technical Community College take out loans to pay for college. The average amount of student loans is $6,660 a year. The student loan default rate of 4.0% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from Durham Technical Community College is $29,142.

Other North Carolina Trade Schools

Rank School Yearly Graduations
26 Central Carolina Community College 372
27 Cleveland Community College 350
28 Nash Community College 323
28 Miller-Motte College Wilmington 323
30 Southwestern Community College 312
31 Health and Style Institute 306
32 Western Carolina University 294
33 Stanly Community College 280
34 Sandhills Community College 274
35 Richmond Community College 257
36 Southeastern College - Charlotte 247
37 Carteret Community College 245
38 Craven Community College 221
39 Surry Community College 213
40 Edgecombe Community College 211
41 Miller-Motte College Fayetteville 207
42 Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte 206
43 Rockingham Community College 205
44 Bladen Community College 203
45 Beaufort County Community College 189
46 Vance-Granville Community College 182
47 Aveda Institute - Chapel Hill 181
48 College of the Albemarle 180
49 Blue Ridge Community College 172
50 Haywood Community College 170
51 Miller-Motte College Jacksonville 165
52 Pamlico Community College 164
53 Paul Mitchell the School Gastonia 163
54 Montgomery Community College 153
55 Miller-Motte College Raleigh 151
56 Mayland Community College 150
57 Mitchell Community College 146
58 Robeson Community College 143
58 Martin Community College 143
60 Southeastern Community College 136
61 Appalachian State University 132
62 Winston - Salem State University 130
63 Halifax Community College 129
63 Leons Beauty School Inc 129
65 Western Piedmont Community College 128
66 Sampson Community College 122
67 Piedmont Community College 120
68 South Piedmont Community College 111
69 Wilson Community College 109
70 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 103
71 University of Mount Olive 100
72 Gwinnett College 92
73 Paul Mitchell the School Raleigh 89
74 McDowell Technical Community College 87
75 Elevate Salon Institute - Durham 85
76 Paul Mitchell the School Fayetteville 73
77 James Sprunt Community College 56
78 Winston Salem Barber School 52
79 College of Wilmington 51
80 Carolinas College of Health Sciences 49
81 Roanoke-Chowan Community College 47
81 Tri-County Community College 47
83 Cabarrus College of Health Sciences 45
83 Brunswick Community College 45
85 Center for Massage 44
86 Alexander Paul Institute of Hair Design 42
87 North Carolina A & T State University 40
88 Empire Beauty School-West Greensboro 38
89 Fayetteville State University 37
89 Living Arts College 37
89 North Carolina State University 37
92 Empire Beauty School-Concord 32
93 Empire Beauty School-Charlotte 29
93 Empire Beauty School-Pineville 29
95 Methodist University 27
96 Elizabeth City State University 23
96 Campbell University 23
98 Queens University of Charlotte 21
98 Pinnacle Institute of Cosmetology 21
100 Empire Beauty School-Winston-Salem 20
101 Carolina College of Hair Design 19
102 Gardner - Webb University 16
103 Mars Hill University 15
103 Aviation Institute of Maintenance - Charlotte 15
105 No Grease Barber School 13
106 Beyond Measure Barbering Institute 12
107 Mitchell’s Academy - Raleigh 8
107 University of North Carolina at Wilmington 8
107 Brevard College 8
107 Greensboro College 8
107 Mitchell’s Academy - Wilson 8
112 Lenoir - Rhyne University 7
112 Johnson C Smith University 7
114 University of North Carolina at Pembroke 6
114 Bull City Durham Beauty and Barber College 6
116 Wingate University 5
116 Pfeiffer University 5
116 Barton College 5
119 Lees - McRae College 4
119 Anson College of Cosmetology 4
121 Livingstone College 3
122 North Carolina Wesleyan College 2
123 Saint Augustine’s University 1
124 Catawba College 0
124 Elon University 0
124 Duke University 0
124 North Carolina Central University 0
124 South University, High Point 0

References

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