2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which trade school program is right for you. 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 Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina ranking. Our analysis looked at 128 schools in North Carolina to see which programs were the most popular for trade school students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
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Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our analysis found Wake Technical Community College to be the most popular school for trade school students in North Carolina. Raleigh, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 6,278 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College accumulate an average of $17,935 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Wake Technical Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,991 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.
Out of the 128 schools in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, Fayetteville Technical Community College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the fairly large public school awarded 3,624 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,083 in student loans. During the early years of their career, FTCC graduates make an average of $32,325 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Guilford Technical Community College is a great place for trade school students. Guilford Technical Community College is a fairly large public school located in Jamestown, North Carolina that handed out 2,800 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Guilford Technical Community College accumulate an average of $18,760 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Guilford Technical Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $30,854 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
The programs at Central Piedmont Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in North Carolina. This fairly large public school is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and it awarded 4,083 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $6,146 in student loans.After graduating from Central Piedmont Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,051 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
Out of the 128 schools in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, Forsyth Technical Community College landed the # 5 spot on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and it awarded 1,987 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Forsyth Tech accumulate an average of $14,931 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Forsyth Tech graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,071 during the early year of their career. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
Pitt Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina list. Located in Winterville, North Carolina, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,669 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Pitt Community College accumulate an average of $18,771 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Pitt Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,276 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
Cape Fear Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina ranking. CFCC is a public institution located in Wilmington, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,074 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from CFCC accumulate an average of $8,329 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, CFCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,667 during the early year of their career. Around 55% of those degree recipients were women.
Gaston College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina ranking. Gaston College is a medium-sized public school situated in Dallas, North Carolina. It awarded 3,400 degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Gaston College graduates make an average of $32,146 annually. Around 77% of those degree recipients were women.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, the large public school handed out 8,666 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,611 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $223 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UNC Charlotte graduates make an average of $46,346 annually. Around 55% of those degree recipients were women.
Read full report on University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Coastal Carolina Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina ranking. Located in Jacksonville, North Carolina, the small public school handed out 1,353 degrees in 2021-2022.
After graduating from Coastal Carolina Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,230 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.
Davidson County Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Thomasville, North Carolina, the small public school handed out 1,614 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $17,259 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, DCCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,670 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Salisbury, North Carolina, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,803 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College accumulate an average of $10,611 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $32,511 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
Wilkes Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina list. Wilkes Community College is a small public school situated in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. It awarded 1,085 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,621 in student loans.After graduating from Wilkes Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $31,020 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 52% were women.
Alamance Community College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. ACC is a small public school situated in Graham, North Carolina. It awarded 1,271 degrees in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, ACC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $30,251 during the early year of their career. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
Wayne Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina list. Wayne Community College is a small public school situated in Goldsboro, North Carolina. It awarded 1,488 degrees in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, Wayne Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $33,473 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.
Catawba Valley Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina list. CVCC is a public institution located in Hickory, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,765 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,154 in student loans.After graduating from CVCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $31,199 during the early years of their career. Around 53% of those degree recipients were women.
Johnston Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina list. Located in Smithfield, North Carolina, the small public school handed out 1,184 degrees in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, Johnston Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,166 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 51% were women.
East Carolina University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina ranking. ECU is located in Greenville, North Carolina and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 6,984 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $34,057 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $296, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, ECU graduates make an average of $44,403 annually. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
Lenoir Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #19 on the list. Kinston, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 986 students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Lenoir Community College graduates make an average of $43,270 annually. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
NASCAR Technical Institute landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. NASCAR Technical Institute is a small private for-profit school located in Mooresville, North Carolina that handed out 543 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from NASCAR Technical Institute accumulate an average of $12,612 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $170, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, NASCAR Technical Institute graduates make an average of $36,296 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 5% were women.
Isothermal Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #21 on the list. ICC is a small public school situated in Spindale, North Carolina. It awarded 1,063 degrees in 2021-2022.
After graduating from ICC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,244 during the early years of their career. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
Randolph Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina ranking. Located in Asheboro, North Carolina, the small public school awarded 1,033 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Randolph Community College graduates make an average of $22,535 annually. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in Hudson, North Carolina, the small public school awarded 1,292 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from CCCTI accumulate an average of $9,864 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from CCCTI, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $30,561 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina list. This medium-sized public school is located in Asheville, North Carolina, and it awarded 1,001 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from A-B Tech accumulate an average of $18,643 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, A-B Tech graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $33,962 during the early year of their career. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Read full report on Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
Durham Technical Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina ranking. Durham Technical Community College is located in Durham, North Carolina and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 987 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,147 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Durham Technical Community College graduates make an average of $40,666 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
Most Popular Trade School Schools in the Southeast Region
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Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular trade school schools ranking:
Rank | School | Location |
---|---|---|
26 | Central Carolina Community College | Sanford, NC |
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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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