Best Community Colleges in North Carolina by Salary Potential

Check out North Carolina’s top community colleges by graduate salary.

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RankSchool NameSchool SectorEarly Career Pay
Mid-Career Pay
% High Meaning
% STEM Degrees
Rank:1School Name:Campbell UniversitySchool Sector:Private not-for-profitEarly Career Pay:$51,900Mid-Career Pay:$75,900% High Meaning:-% STEM Degrees:10%
Rank:2School Name:Cabarrus College of Health SciencesSchool Sector:Private not-for-profitEarly Career Pay:$51,400Mid-Career Pay:$73,200% High Meaning:-% STEM Degrees:0%
Rank:3School Name:North Carolina State University at RaleighSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$46,400Mid-Career Pay:$68,500% High Meaning:61%% STEM Degrees:45%
Rank:4School Name:Louisburg CollegeSchool Sector:Private not-for-profitEarly Career Pay:$44,300Mid-Career Pay:$65,000% High Meaning:-% STEM Degrees:10%
Rank:5School Name:Central Piedmont Community CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$41,900Mid-Career Pay:$64,400% High Meaning:50%% STEM Degrees:6%
Rank:6School Name:Montreat CollegeSchool Sector:Private not-for-profitEarly Career Pay:$43,900Mid-Career Pay:$64,200% High Meaning:-% STEM Degrees:21%
Rank:7School Name:Wake Technical Community CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$43,600Mid-Career Pay:$63,600% High Meaning:56%% STEM Degrees:14%
Rank:8School Name:Caldwell Community College and Technical InstituteSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$42,500Mid-Career Pay:$63,300% High Meaning:67%% STEM Degrees:3%
Rank:9School Name:Robeson Community CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$41,300Mid-Career Pay:$62,300% High Meaning:70%% STEM Degrees:2%
Rank:10School Name:Piedmont Community CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$41,300Mid-Career Pay:$62,200% High Meaning:38%% STEM Degrees:4%
Rank:11School Name:Durham Technical Community CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$42,800Mid-Career Pay:$62,100% High Meaning:57%% STEM Degrees:19%
Rank:12School Name:Forsyth Technical Community CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$42,300Mid-Career Pay:$61,700% High Meaning:55%% STEM Degrees:8%
Rank:13School Name:Sampson Community CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$39,100Mid-Career Pay:$61,000% High Meaning:39%% STEM Degrees:7%
Rank:13School Name:Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$42,200Mid-Career Pay:$61,000% High Meaning:64%% STEM Degrees:5%
Rank:15School Name:Cape Fear Community CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$41,600Mid-Career Pay:$60,900% High Meaning:63%% STEM Degrees:5%
Rank:16School Name:Pitt Community CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$39,700Mid-Career Pay:$60,700% High Meaning:70%% STEM Degrees:4%
Rank:17School Name:James Sprunt Community CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$40,100Mid-Career Pay:$60,600% High Meaning:74%% STEM Degrees:7%
Rank:18School Name:Catawba Valley Community CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$40,400Mid-Career Pay:$60,200% High Meaning:64%% STEM Degrees:3%
Rank:19School Name:Mayland Community CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$40,000Mid-Career Pay:$60,000% High Meaning:76%% STEM Degrees:4%
Rank:19School Name:Guilford Technical Community CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$39,700Mid-Career Pay:$60,000% High Meaning:57%% STEM Degrees:9%
Rank:21School Name:Rockingham Community CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$41,100Mid-Career Pay:$59,900% High Meaning:58%% STEM Degrees:3%
Rank:21School Name:Roanoke-Chowan Community CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$40,200Mid-Career Pay:$59,900% High Meaning:76%% STEM Degrees:2%
Rank:23School Name:Coastal Carolina Community CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$37,900Mid-Career Pay:$59,600% High Meaning:58%% STEM Degrees:4%
Rank:24School Name:Nash Community CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$40,400Mid-Career Pay:$59,500% High Meaning:60%% STEM Degrees:6%
Rank:25School Name:Randolph Community CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$37,400Mid-Career Pay:$59,300% High Meaning:55%% STEM Degrees:2%

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College Student

If you’re looking for the best colleges in North Carolina, you should feel confident kniwing the state is home to a robust public school system where students can earn associate degrees to prepare them for a variety of careers. Well-known 2-year schools, such as Davidson County Community College, Wake Technical Community College, and Central Piedmont Community College are included on this list, as well as one four-year college that grants both associate and bachelor’s degrees. (This list only includes salary data for alumni who graduated with an associate degree.) In total, North Carolina’s community college system has 58 campuses within half an hour of 99 percent of the state’s residents, and is nationally recognized for its career-oriented programs. Manufacturing, aerospace and aviation, IT, and agribusiness are some of the top industries in the state.

A healthy percent of Southwestern Community College alumni find their jobs to be highly meaningful, making them the most fulfilled workers in North Carolina.