College of the Albemarle

1208 N Road St
Elizabeth City, NC 27906
Top Ranked (2024): View Rankings
  • COA is a comprehensive community college committed to providing accessible education, training, and retraining for better jobs and better lives in Northeastern North Carolina.

School Highlights

College of the Albemarle serves 2,508 students (32% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 9:1 is same as the state community college average of 9:1.
Minority enrollment is 31% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the state average of 41%.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Enrollment: 2,508 students
  • In-state tuition: $2,102
  • Out-state tuition: $7,404
  • Student:teacher ratio: 9:1
  • Minority enrollment: 31%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Top Rankings

College of the Albemarle ranks among the top 20% of public schools in North Carolina for:

Category
Attribute

School Overview

The teacher population of 274 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
College of the Albemarle
(NC) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associates Colleges
Associates Colleges
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
274 staff
256 staff
This chart displays total faculty of College of the Albemarle and community college average number of faculty in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Student Body

The student population of College of the Albemarle has stayed relatively flat over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 9:1 has stayed the same over five years.
The College of the Albemarle diversity score of 0.50 is less than the state average of 0.60. The school's diversity has declined by 10% over five years.
Total Enrollment
2,508 students
2,142 students
This chart displays the total enrollment of College of the Albemarle and community college average number of enrollment of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
9:1
9:1
This chart displays the student staff ratio of College of the Albemarle and community college average student staff ratio of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Full-Time Students
807 students
693 students
This chart displays the total number of Full-time students enrollment of College of the Albemarle and average number of community college Full-time students enrollment of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Part-Time Students
1,701 students
1,449 students
This chart displays the total number of Part-time students enrollment of College of the Albemarle and average number of community college Part-time students enrollment of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
This chart displays the Full-time students and Part-time students enrollment breakdown of College of the Albemarle.
This chart displays community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of North Carolina.
# Enrollment Undergraduate
160 students
252 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
807 students
693 students
This chart displays the total number of Full-time undergraduate students enrollment of College of the Albemarle and average number of community college Full-time undergraduate  students enrollment of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
5 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
1,701 students
1,583 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
1 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
717 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
1%
1%
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan students in College of the Albemarle and the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan community college students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Asian
1%
3%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in College of the Albemarle and the percentage of Asian community college students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Hispanic
3%
11%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in College of the Albemarle and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Black
13%
18%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in College of the Albemarle and the percentage of Black community college students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% White
69%
59%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in College of the Albemarle and the percentage of White community college students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Two or more races
3%
2%
This chart displays the percentage of Two or more races students in College of the Albemarle and the percentage of Two or more races community college students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Non Resident races
4%
2%
This chart displays the percentage of Non Resident students in College of the Albemarle and the percentage of Non Resident community college students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Unknown races
6%
4%
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in College of the Albemarle.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in North Carolina.
Diversity Score
0.50
0.60
This chart displays the diversity score of College of the Albemarle and the community college average diversity score of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
40%
35%
This chart displays completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of College of the Albemarle and community college average completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
1.63%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$25,600
$27,500
This chart displays average graduate earnings (10 Years) of College of the Albemarle and community college average graduate earnings (10 Years) of North Carolina by year, disaggregated by student subgroups with the latest 2012-13 school year data.

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $2,102 is less than the state average of $3,924. The in-state tuition has declined by 5% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $7,404 is less than the state average of $9,543. The out-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$2,102
$3,924
This chart displays tuition fees for an in-state student of College of the Albemarle and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Out-State Tuition Fees
$7,404
$9,543
This chart displays tuition fees for an out-of-state student of College of the Albemarle and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
64%
81%
This chart displays the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in College of the Albemarle and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates
$4,625
$9,500
This chart displays median debt for students who have completed a certificate or degree in College of the Albemarle and average median debt for community college students who have completed a certificate or degree in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2013-14 school year data.
Median Debt for Dropouts
$3,887
$5,500
This chart displays median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in College of the Albemarle and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2013-14 school year data.
Acceptance Rate
n/a
82%
SAT Reading
n/a
488
SAT Math
n/a
498
ACT Composite
n/a
20
ACT English
n/a
13
ACT Math
n/a
16
Source: 2021 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

School Notes

  • Whether you are a basic skills, continuing education, vocational, technical or college transfer student; or a community member seeking business & industry training or cultural enrichment, COA has much to offer. COA can help you meet your educational and career goals. Many of our services are free, and all of them are relatively inexpensive, making COA an affordable investment in your future. Elizabeth City became home to COA in 1961 when College of The Albemarle became the first community college in the state chartered under the Community College Act of 1957. In 1963, the college was approved as the first comprehensive community college in the North Carolina Community College System. The college's 75-acre Elizabeth City Campus is located on Highway U.S. 17 North in Elizabeth City. On that campus, six major buildings provide space for administrative and faculty offices, classrooms, laboratories, a college bookstore, a student center, the Learning Resources Center, a lecture auditorium, a learning lab, the COA Auditorium, the Technology Center, a Basic Skills Lab, and a Health Sciences Center. Credits earned at College of The Albemarle in curricula leading to the Associate in Arts degree, the Associate in Science degree, the Associate in Fine Arts degree, and some of those leading to the Associate in Applied Science degree and the Associate in General Education degree, are transferable to senior colleges and universities for a higher degree. College of The Albemarle is a member of the North Carolina Community College System. College of The Albemarle is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does College of the Albemarle cost?
College of the Albemarle's tuition is approximately $2,102 for In-State students and $7,404 for Out-State students.
What is College of the Albemarle's ranking?
College of the Albemarle ranks among the top 20% of community college in North Carolina for: Least expensive tuition and Least debt for graduating students.

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • Enrollment: 2,508 students
  • In-state tuition: $2,102
  • Out-state tuition: $7,404
  • Student:teacher ratio: 9:1
  • Minority enrollment: 31%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

For North Carolina public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $3,924 per year for in-state students and $9,543 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $19,438 per year. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

The average community college acceptance rate in North Carolina is 71%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

North Carolina community colleges have a diversity score of 0.60, which is lower than the national average of 0.71. The most diverse community college in North Carolina is Durham Technical Community College. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

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