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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.
Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Wake Technical Community College the most popular school in North Carolina for trade school students working on their degree. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, the large public school awarded 6,278 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,935 in student loans. 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. Around 53% of those degree recipients 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. FTCC is a fairly large public school situated in Fayetteville, North Carolina. It awarded 3,624 degrees 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.After graduating from FTCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $32,325 during the early years of their career. 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. This fairly large public school is located in Jamestown, North Carolina, and it awarded 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. During the early years of their career, Guilford Technical Community College graduates make an average of $30,854 annually. Around 55% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Central Piedmont Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina list. Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, the fairly large public school awarded 4,083 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $6,146 in loans while pursuing their degree.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. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Forsyth Technical Community College is a great place for trade school students. Forsyth Tech is a medium-sized public school situated in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 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. Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
Pitt Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. 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. Once they receive their degree, Pitt Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,276 during the early year of their career. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
Cape Fear Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina list. This fairly large public school is located in Wilmington, North Carolina, and it awarded 2,074 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,329 in student loans. 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 did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in Dallas, North Carolina, the medium-sized public school handed out 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.
With a ranking of #9, University of North Carolina at Charlotte did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. 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.
Degree recipients from UNC Charlotte accumulate an average of $27,611 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $223, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UNC Charlotte graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,346 during the early year of their career. Around 55% of those degree recipients were women.
Coastal Carolina Community College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. 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 did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #11 on the list. DCCC is located in Thomasville, North Carolina and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,614 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from DCCC accumulate an average of $17,259 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, DCCC graduates make an average of $36,670 annually. Around 53% of those degree recipients were women.
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina list. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is a public institution located in Salisbury, North Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 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.After graduating from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $32,511 during the early years of their career. Around 59% of those degree recipients 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 located in Wilkesboro, North Carolina that handed out 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. During the early years of their career, Wilkes Community College graduates make an average of $31,020 annually. 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. This small public school is located in Graham, North Carolina, and 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. Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
Wayne Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina list. Located in Goldsboro, North Carolina, the small public school awarded 1,488 diplomas to qualifed students 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. Around 53% of those degree recipients were women.
Catawba Valley Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina list. Located in Hickory, North Carolina, the small public school awarded 1,765 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from CVCC accumulate an average of $8,154 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, CVCC graduates make an average of $31,199 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.
Johnston Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #17 on the list. Johnston Community College is a small public school located in Smithfield, North Carolina that handed out 1,184 degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Johnston Community College graduates make an average of $39,166 annually. Around 51% of those degree recipients 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 a large public school situated in Greenville, North Carolina. It awarded 6,984 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from ECU accumulate an average of $34,057 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $296. 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 ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina list. 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.
During the early years of their career, Lenoir Community College graduates make an average of $43,270 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 58% 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 private for-profit institution located in Mooresville, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 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. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $170. During the early years of their career, NASCAR Technical Institute graduates make an average of $36,296 annually. Around 5% of those degree recipients 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 landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Asheboro, North Carolina, the small public school awarded 1,033 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
After graduating from Randolph Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $22,535 during the early years of their career. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in North Carolina ranking. This small public school is located in Hudson, North Carolina, and it awarded 1,292 degrees 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.
Read full report on Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
With a ranking of #24, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Asheville, North Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,001 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $18,643 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, A-B Tech graduates make an average of $33,962 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
With a ranking of #25, Durham Technical Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Durham Technical Community College is a small public school situated in Durham, North Carolina. It awarded 987 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Durham Technical Community College accumulate an average of $20,147 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Durham Technical Community College graduates make an average of $40,666 annually. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
Most Popular Trade School Schools in the Southeast Region
View Most Popular Trade School Schools Nationwide >
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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