South College - Asheville Campus Photo

Best North Carolina Community Colleges (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 74 community colleges serving 251,595 students in North Carolina (60 public colleges and 14 private colleges).
The average tuition for community colleges in North Carolina is approximately $3,915 per year for in-state students and $9,508 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $19,438 per year (view national tuition costs).
The average community college acceptance rate in North Carolina is 70% (compared to national acceptance rates).
Minority enrollment is 50%, with the majority being Black and the student-teacher ratio is 21:1.

Top-Ranked North Carolina Community Colleges (2026)

College
Location
Quick Facts
2201 Hull Rd
Fayetteville, NC 28303
(910) 678-8400
Enrollment: 15,510 students Student-teacher ratio: 33:1 Acceptance rate: 100% In-state tuition: $2,628 Out-state tuition: $8,772 Minority enrollment: 67%
Isothermal Community College
Isothermal Community College Photo - Isothermal Community College
Public
286 ICC Loop Road
Spindale, NC 28160
(828) 286-3636
Enrollment: 1,918 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 In-state tuition: $2,358 Out-state tuition: $8,502 Minority enrollment: 29%
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte
Private for-profit
7421 E. Independence Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28227
(980) 785-0700
Enrollment: 344 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Bladen Community College
Public
7418 NC Hwy 41 West
Dublin, NC 28332
(910) 879-5500
Enrollment: 1,173 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 In-state tuition: $2,385 Out-state tuition: $8,529 Minority enrollment: 59%
Blue Ridge Community College
Public
180 West Campus Drive
Flat Rock, NC 28731
(828) 694-1700
Enrollment: 2,723 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 In-state tuition: $2,304 Out-state tuition: $8,448 Minority enrollment: 28%
Brevard College
Private not-for-profit
One Brevard College Drive
Brevard, NC 28712
(828) 641-0641
Enrollment: 875 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Acceptance rate: 42% Private-state tuition: $26,170 Minority enrollment: 38%
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences Photo
Private not-for-profit
401 Medical Park Drive
Concord, NC 28025
(704) 403-1555
Enrollment: 924 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Acceptance rate: 23% Private-state tuition: $11,636 Minority enrollment: 47%
2110 Water Ridge Parkway
Charlotte, NC 28217
(704) 355-5043
Enrollment: 632 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Acceptance rate: 60% In-state tuition: $13,412 Out-state tuition: $13,412 Minority enrollment: 47%
1105 Kelly Dr
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 775-5401
Enrollment: 5,882 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Acceptance rate: 25% In-state tuition: $2,396 Out-state tuition: $8,540 Minority enrollment: 51%
Louisburg College
Private not-for-profit
501 N. Main St.
Louisburg, NC 27549
(919) 496-2521
Enrollment: 402 students Student-teacher ratio: 40:1 Acceptance rate: 56% Private-state tuition: $16,678 Minority enrollment: 82%
Miller-Motte College-Jacksonville
Private for-profit
105 New Frontier Way
Jacksonville, NC 28546
(910) 478-4300
Enrollment: 195 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
MyComputerCareer at Raleigh
Private for-profit
5511 Capital Center Dr Ste 500
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 371-4820
Enrollment: 1,466 students Student-teacher ratio: 30:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
NASCAR Technical Institute
Private for-profit
220 Byers Creek Road
Mooresville, NC 28117
(877) 201-2597
Enrollment: 1,345 students Student-teacher ratio: 31:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Randolph Community College
Public
629 Industrial Park Ave
Asheboro, NC 27205
(336) 633-0200
Enrollment: 2,814 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Acceptance rate: 40% In-state tuition: $1,816 Out-state tuition: $6,424 Minority enrollment: 37%
Southeastern College-Charlotte
Private for-profit
207 Regency Executive Park Drive
Charlotte, NC 28217
(704) 527-4979
Enrollment: 252 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Acceptance rate: 94% Minority enrollment: 88%
Wayne Community College
Public
3000 Wayne Memorial Dr
Goldsboro, NC 27534
(919) 735-5151
Enrollment: 3,626 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 In-state tuition: $2,396 Out-state tuition: $8,540 Minority enrollment: 48%
Wilkes Community College
Public
1328 South Collegiate Dr
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
(336) 838-6100
Enrollment: 2,593 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 In-state tuition: $2,444 Out-state tuition: $8,588 Minority enrollment: 22%
Alamance Community College
Public
1247 Jimmie Kerr Road
Graham, NC 27253
(336) 578-2002
Enrollment: 4,827 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 In-state tuition: $2,175 Out-state tuition: $7,935 Minority enrollment: 49%
340 Victoria Rd
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 254-1921
Enrollment: 6,510 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 In-state tuition: $2,033 Out-state tuition: $7,396 Minority enrollment: 29%
Beaufort County Community College
Public
5337 US Highway 264 East
Washington, NC 27889
(252) 946-6194
Enrollment: 1,856 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Acceptance rate: 75% In-state tuition: $2,368 Out-state tuition: $8,512 Minority enrollment: 51%
Brunswick Community College
Public
50 College Rd
Bolivia, NC 28422
(910) 755-7300
Enrollment: 2,009 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 In-state tuition: $2,404 Out-state tuition: $8,548 Minority enrollment: 30%
2855 Hickory Boulevard
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 726-2200
Enrollment: 3,914 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 In-state tuition: $2,380 Out-state tuition: $8,524 Minority enrollment: 24%
Cape Fear Community College
Cape Fear Community College Photo - CFCC's Union Station Building is one of the college's newest facilities in downtown Wilmington.
Public
411 North Front Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 362-7000
Enrollment: 14,082 students Student-teacher ratio: 45:1 In-state tuition: $2,425 Out-state tuition: $8,569 Minority enrollment: 33%
Carteret Community College
Public
3505 Arendell St
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 222-6000
Enrollment: 1,614 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 In-state tuition: $2,676 Out-state tuition: $7,284 Minority enrollment: 24%
Catawba Valley Community College
Public
2550 Hwy 70 SE
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 327-7000
Enrollment: 4,904 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Acceptance rate: 77% In-state tuition: $2,502 Out-state tuition: $8,646 Minority enrollment: 36%
1201 Elizabeth Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28204
(704) 330-2722
Enrollment: 20,375 students Student-teacher ratio: 28:1 In-state tuition: $2,664 Out-state tuition: $8,808 Minority enrollment: 61%
Cleveland Community College
Cleveland Community College Photo - Cleveland Community College
Public
137 S Post Rd
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 669-4081
Enrollment: 1,558 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 In-state tuition: $2,526 Out-state tuition: $8,670 Minority enrollment: 39%
444 Western Blvd
Jacksonville, NC 28546
(910) 455-1221
Enrollment: 3,659 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 In-state tuition: $2,334 Out-state tuition: $8,478 Minority enrollment: 44%
College of the Albemarle
College of the Albemarle Photo - COA Campus
Public
1208 N Road St
Elizabeth City, NC 27906
(252) 335-0821
Enrollment: 2,905 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 In-state tuition: $2,102 Out-state tuition: $7,404 Minority enrollment: 38%
Craven Community College
Public
800 College Ct
New Bern, NC 28562
(252) 638-7200
Enrollment: 3,103 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 In-state tuition: $1,847 Out-state tuition: $6,455 Minority enrollment: 44%
Davidson-Davie Community College
Public
297 DCC Road
Thomasville, NC 27360
(336) 249-8186
Enrollment: 4,305 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 In-state tuition: $2,438 Out-state tuition: $8,582 Minority enrollment: 36%
1637 Lawson Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 536-7200
Enrollment: 5,157 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 In-state tuition: $2,039 Out-state tuition: $7,577 Minority enrollment: 71%
Edgecombe Community College
Public
2009 W Wilson St
Tarboro, NC 27886
(252) 823-5166
Enrollment: 1,397 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Acceptance rate: 74% In-state tuition: $2,376 Out-state tuition: $8,520 Minority enrollment: 71%
2100 Silas Creek Pky
Winston-Salem, NC 27103
(336) 723-0371
Enrollment: 9,099 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 In-state tuition: $2,056 Out-state tuition: $6,688 Minority enrollment: 58%
Gaston College
Public
201 Hwy 321 S
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-6200
Enrollment: 6,443 students Student-teacher ratio: 28:1 In-state tuition: $2,560 Out-state tuition: $8,704 Minority enrollment: 60%
Show 39 more community colleges in North Carolina (out of 74 total colleges)
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[+] Show Closed Community Colleges in North Carolina

Community Colleges in North Carolina (Closed)

School
Location
Quick Facts
5520 Dillard Drive, Suite 100
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 233-2520
Enrollment: 278 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Acceptance rate: 97% Private-state tuition: $18,048 Minority enrollment: 70%
10926 David Taylor Drive Ste 100
Charlotte, NC 28262
(704) 548-2300
Enrollment: 420 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Acceptance rate: 95% Private-state tuition: $18,048 Minority enrollment: 75%
4135 Southstream Blvd., Suite 200
Charlotte, NC 28217
(704) 423-3100
Enrollment: 319 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Acceptance rate: 95% Private-state tuition: $18,048 Minority enrollment: 71%
4050 Piedmont Parkway, Ste 110
High Point, NC 27265
(336) 819-5900
Enrollment: 426 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Acceptance rate: 68% Private-state tuition: $18,048 Minority enrollment: 61%
1021 WH Smith Blvd Ste 102
Greenville, NC 27834
(252) 215-2000
Enrollment: 353 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Private-state tuition: $10,748 Minority enrollment: 67%

Overview

This State (NC)
Total Faculty
129 staff
Number of Programs Offered
51

Student Body

Total Enrollment
2,143 students
Student-Teacher Ratio
21:1
# Full-Time Students
650 students
# Part-Time Students
1,493 students
# Enrollment Undergraduate
300 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
650 students
# Full-Time Graduate Students
50 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
1,517 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
7 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
719 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
1%
% Asian
3%
% Hispanic
14%
% Black
22%
% White
50%
% Hawaiian
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
% Non Resident races
1%
% Unknown races
6%
Diversity Score
0.00
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
37%
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
36%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$27,500

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

In-State Tuition Fees
$3,915
Out-State Tuition Fees
$9,508
Private State Tuition Fees
$19,438
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
79%
Median Debt for Graduates
$11,865
Median Debt for Dropouts
$5,846
Acceptance Rate
75%
SAT Total Avg.
986
SAT Reading
488
SAT Math
498
SAT Writing (Year 2007)
395
ACT Total Avg.
54
ACT Composite
20
ACT English
16
ACT Math
18

Frequently Asked Questions

How many community colleges are located in North Carolina?
There are 74 community colleges serving 251,595 students in North Carolina.
How much do community colleges cost in North Carolina?
The average tuition for community colleges in North Carolina is approximately $3,915 per year for in-state students and $9,508 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $19,438.
What are the top-ranked community colleges in North Carolina?
What is the community college acceptance rate in North Carolina?
The average community college acceptance rate in North Carolina is 70% (compared to national acceptance rates).
How diverse are community colleges in North Carolina?
Community colleges in North Carolina have approximately 50% minority enrollment, with the majority being Black.

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