Home > North Carolina > Burke County > Morganton

Western Piedmont Community College

1001 Burkemont Ave
Morganton, NC 28655

View full size Get directions

Top Ranked (2025): View Rankings

Tel: (828) 448-3500

www.wpcc.edu

REQUEST INFO

SAVE SCHOOL

School Highlights

Western Piedmont Community College serves 2,330 students (33% of students are full-time).

The college's student:teacher ratio of 10:1 is lower than the state community college average of 13:1.

Minority enrollment is 26% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 48%.

Quick Stats (2025)

Enrollment: 2,330 students
In-state tuition: $2,417
Out-state tuition: $8,561
Student:teacher ratio: 10:1
Minority enrollment: 26%
Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Top Rankings

Western Piedmont Community College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in North Carolina for:

School Overview

The teacher population of 242 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.

Western Piedmont Community College

(NC) Community College Avg.

Carnegie Classification

Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Career & Technical-High Nontraditional

Institution Level

At least 2 but less than 4 years

Institution Control

Public

Total Faculty

242 staff

256 staff

This chart displays total faculty of Western Piedmont Community College and community college average number of faculty in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

School Calendar

View School Calendar

Student Body

The student population of Western Piedmont Community College has grown by 28% over five years.

The student:teacher ratio of 10:1 has increased from 7:1 over five years.

The Western Piedmont Community College diversity score of 0.43 is less than the state average of 0.66. The school's diversity has grown by 14% over five years.

Total Enrollment

2,330 students

2,542 students

This chart displays the total enrollment of Western Piedmont Community College and community college average number of enrollment of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.

Student : Teacher Ratio

10:1

13:1

This chart displays the student staff ratio of Western Piedmont Community College and community college average student staff ratio of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

# Full-Time Students

766 students

# Part-Time Students

1,564 students

1,813 students

This chart displays the total number of Part-time students enrollment of Western Piedmont Community College and average number of community college Part-time students enrollment of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.

This chart displays the Full-time students and Part-time students enrollment breakdown of Western Piedmont Community College.

This chart displays community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of North Carolina.

# Enrollment Undergraduate

233 students

316 students

# Full-Time Undergraduate Students

766 students

# Full-Time Graduate Students

n/a

22 students

# Part-Time Undergraduate Students

1,564 students

1,990 students

# Part-Time Graduate Students

n/a

3 students

Total Dormitory Capacity

n/a

717 students

% American Indian/Alaskan

n/a

% Asian

% Hispanic

13%

% Black

21%

% White

74%

52%

This chart displays the percentage of White students in Western Piedmont Community College and the percentage of White community college students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

% Hawaiian

n/a

% Two or more races

% Non Resident races

n/a

This chart displays the percentage of Non Resident students in Western Piedmont Community College and the percentage of Non Resident community college students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

% Unknown races

n/a

This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Western Piedmont Community College.

This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in North Carolina.

0.43

0.66

This chart displays the diversity score of Western Piedmont Community College and the community college average diversity score of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)

0.395%

0.3684%

This chart displays completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Western Piedmont Community College and community college average completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.

College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)

n/a

0.4286%

Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)

$28,200

$27,500

This chart displays average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Western Piedmont Community College 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 $2,417 is less than the state average of $3,915. The in-state tuition has declined by 6% over four years.

The public out-state tuition of $8,561 is less than the state average of $9,508. The out-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.

In-State Tuition Fees

$2,417

$3,915

This chart displays tuition fees for an in-state student of Western Piedmont Community College and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.

Out-State Tuition Fees

$8,561

$9,508

This chart displays tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Western Piedmont Community College and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.

% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid

76%

82%

This chart displays the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in Western Piedmont Community College and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Median Debt for Graduates

$4,671

$10,994

This chart displays median debt for students who have completed a certificate or degree in Western Piedmont Community College and average median debt for community college students who have completed a certificate or degree in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2017-18 school year data.

Median Debt for Dropouts

$4,500

$5,846

This chart displays median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Western Piedmont Community College and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Acceptance Rate

n/a

82%

SAT Reading

n/a

488

SAT Math

n/a

498

ACT Composite

n/a

ACT English

n/a

ACT Math

n/a

Source: 2024 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

REQUEST FREE INFORMATION

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Western Piedmont Community College cost?

Western Piedmont Community College's tuition is approximately $2,417 for In-State students and $8,561 for Out-State students.

What schools are Western Piedmont Community College often compared to?

Western Piedmont Community Collegeis often viewed alongside schools like Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute by visitors of our site.

What is Western Piedmont Community College's ranking?

Western Piedmont Community College ranks among the top 20% of community college in North Carolina for: Least debt for graduating students.

Recent Articles

March 27, 2025

Unlocking Airport Career Opportunities: Your Guide to Ground Jobs

Discover the diverse range of ground jobs at mid-size U.S. airports, their educational requirements, and how community colleges can prepare you for these exciting careers.

March 25, 2025

Careers: Dental Hygienist, Medical Lab Technician & More Healthcare Positions

Considering the healthcare field? Your community college can equip you for any number of healthcare positions, including Dental Hygienist, Medical Lab Technician, and more.

March 16, 2025

How To Craft the Perfect College Admissions Essay

Read on to learn the ins and outs of crafting the perfect college application essay.

Quick Stats (2025)

Enrollment: 2,330 students
In-state tuition: $2,417
Out-state tuition: $8,561
Student:teacher ratio: 10:1
Minority enrollment: 26%
Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Did You Know?

For North Carolina public community colleges, the average tuition 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. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

The average community college acceptance rate in North Carolina is 77%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

North Carolina community colleges have a of 0.66, which is higher than the national average of 0.00. The most diverse community college in North Carolina is Gaston College. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.