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Best Trade Schools in North Carolina

2023 Best Trade Schools in North Carolina

63 Schools Ranked
$40,702 Average Earnings
$31,084 Avg Student Debt

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for trade school students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Best Trade Schools in North Carolina ranking. This report analyzed 63 schools in North Carolina to see which ones offered the best programs for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Trade Schools in North Carolina

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina
6,984 Total Awards

Our 2023 rankings named East Carolina University the best school in North Carolina for trade school students working on their degree. Located in Greenville, North Carolina, the large public school handed out 6,984 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#2

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
9,997 Total Awards

Out of the 63 schools in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the # 2 spot on the list. UNC Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 9,997 degrees to qualified students.

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#3

University of Mount Olive

Mount Olive, North Carolina
649 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Mount Olive. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Trade Schools in North Carolina list. University of Mount Olive is a small private not-for-profit school located in Mount Olive, North Carolina that handed out 649 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#4

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, North Carolina
8,666 Total Awards

Out of the 63 schools in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina at Charlotte landed the # 4 spot on the list. University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a large public school located in Charlotte, North Carolina that handed out 8,666 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#5

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, North Carolina
3,493 Total Awards

Out of the 63 schools in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Carolina University landed the # 5 spot on the list. WCU is located in Cullowhee, North Carolina and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3,493 degrees to qualified students.

Full Western Carolina University Report

#6

Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte

Charlotte, North Carolina
369 Total Awards

Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Charlotte, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 369 students in 2021-2022.

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#8

Craven Community College

New Bern, North Carolina
1,198 Total Awards

Craven Community College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. New Bern, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,198 students in 2021-2022.

Full Craven Community College Report

#9

Miller-Motte College Wilmington

Wilmington, North Carolina
500 Total Awards

Miller-Motte College Wilmington did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #9 on the list. This very small private for-profit school is located in Wilmington, North Carolina, and it awarded 500 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Miller-Motte College Wilmington

#10

Central Piedmont Community College

Charlotte, North Carolina
4,083 Total Awards

Central Piedmont Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #10 on the list. Charlotte, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 4,083 students in 2021-2022.

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#11

Montgomery Community College

Troy, North Carolina
296 Total Awards

Montgomery Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. This very small public school is located in Troy, North Carolina, and it awarded 296 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Montgomery Community College

#12

Brunswick Community College

Bolivia, North Carolina
454 Total Awards

Brunswick Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in North Carolina ranking. Brunswick Community College is a public institution located in Bolivia, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 454 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#13

McDowell Technical Community College

Marion, North Carolina
342 Total Awards

McDowell Technical Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in Marion, North Carolina, the small public school handed out 342 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on McDowell Technical Community College

#14

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

Salisbury, North Carolina
1,803 Total Awards

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in North Carolina ranking. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Salisbury, North Carolina. It awarded 1,803 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

#15

Winston - Salem State University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
1,131 Total Awards

With a ranking of #15, Winston - Salem State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. WSSU is a medium-sized public school situated in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It awarded 1,131 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Winston - Salem State University

#16

Lees - McRae College

Banner Elk, North Carolina
233 Total Awards

Lees - McRae College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #16 on the list. This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Banner Elk, North Carolina, and it awarded 233 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Lees - McRae College

#17

Pitt Community College

Winterville, North Carolina
1,669 Total Awards

Pitt Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in North Carolina ranking. Pitt Community College is located in Winterville, North Carolina and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,669 degrees to qualified students.

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#18

Surry Community College

Dobson, North Carolina
805 Total Awards

Surry Community College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Surry Community College is a small public school located in Dobson, North Carolina that handed out 805 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Surry Community College Report

#19

Richmond Community College

Hamlet, North Carolina
815 Total Awards

Richmond Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #19 on the list. Richmond Community College is a small public school located in Hamlet, North Carolina that handed out 815 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Richmond Community College

#20

Gaston College

Dallas, North Carolina
3,400 Total Awards

With a ranking of #20, Gaston College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Gaston College is a medium-sized public school situated in Dallas, North Carolina. It awarded 3,400 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Gaston College Report

#21

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina
5,388 Total Awards

Appalachian State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #21 on the list. This large public school is located in Boone, North Carolina, and it awarded 5,388 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Appalachian State University

#22

Alamance Community College

Graham, North Carolina
1,271 Total Awards

Alamance Community College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. ACC is located in Graham, North Carolina and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,271 degrees to qualified students.

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#23

Wayne Community College

Goldsboro, North Carolina
1,488 Total Awards

Wayne Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in North Carolina ranking. Wayne Community College is a small public school located in Goldsboro, North Carolina that handed out 1,488 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Wayne Community College

#24

Lenoir Community College

Kinston, North Carolina
986 Total Awards

Lenoir Community College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Lenoir Community College is a public institution located in Kinston, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 986 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Lenoir Community College

#25

South Piedmont Community College

Polkton, North Carolina
603 Total Awards

South Piedmont Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in North Carolina ranking. This small public school is located in Polkton, North Carolina, and it awarded 603 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on South Piedmont Community College

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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