With more than 50 community colleges in North Carolina (NC), it can be hard to pick the right one. With so many good options, you’ll need to figure out which schools are the best community colleges in NC.
In this article, we’ll go over the top 10 community colleges in the state and the associate degree and certificate programs they’re known for. Plus, we’ll point you toward the community colleges for IT in NC and the best online community colleges in NC. To find out which two-year school is right for you, keep reading.
How We Defined Our NC Community College Rankings
Choosing the right college can be tricky, so to make your school search a little bit easier, we’ve compiled the list below. To do so, we have considered the quality of each school’s academic programs, their transfer rates, and their student-faculty ratio. The latter is important considering that there were over 500,000 students enrolled in North Carolina community colleges in the 2020-2021 academic year.
Other factors like tuition costs, graduation rates, and retention rates also played a part in deciding these school rankings.
The Top 10 Community Colleges in NC
- Vance-Granville Community College
- Carteret Community College
- Southwestern Community College
- Randolph Community College
- Central Carolina Community College
- Montgomery Community College
- Johnston Community College
- Western Piedmont Community College
- Sandhills Community College
- Brunswick Community College
The Best Community Colleges in NC: Explained
1. Vance-Granville Community College
This college has three campuses across North Carolina and offers over 40 in-person and online programs including those in health services, business administration, and digital media technology. The average tuition for in-state students is around $2,400 for the school year, making it an affordable option for many students. Prospective students need to apply online, submit their school transcripts, and take a placement exam to gain admission.
Best Vance-Granville Community College Programs
- Associate Degree in Nursing
- Associate Degree in Supply Chain Management – Trucking Operations Management
- Associate Degree in Human Services – Gerontology
- Certificate in Criminal Justice Technology and Special Populations
- Associate of Applied Science in Medical Office Administration
2. Carteret Community College
This is one of the largest community colleges in North Carolina, and over half of its student population is enrolled in online classes, which still provide full academic credit. Other programs are designed for transfer students, as the school has a high transfer rate to four-year schools. It is also one of only a few schools in North Carolina with an open-door admission policy. It has a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1.
Best Carteret Community College Programs
- Associate Degree in Hospitality Management
- Associate in Arts – Teacher Preparation
- Diploma in Human Services Technology
- Certificate in Medical Assisting
- Associate Degree in Emergency Medical Science
3. Southwestern Community College
Prospective students must possess a high school diploma or equivalent to gain admission into a Southwestern program, which range from subjects like human resources management to business administration. The school prioritizes practical experience and professional development. Its students frequently intern at organizations within their area of study.
Best Southwestern Community College Programs
- Associate Degree in Business Administration and Management
- Associate Degree in Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Certificate in Carpentry
- Associate Degree in Culinary Arts
- Certificate in Welding Technology
4. Randolph Community College
This public community college provides physical and online programs as well as hybrid classes in subjects like human services technology and business administration. Based in Asheboro, North Carolina, Randolph Community College offers free tuition to high school students who attend the school through its Career and College Promise program. It even runs a paid apprenticeship program for those students.
Best Randolph Community College Programs
- Associate Degree in Automotive Systems Technology
- Associate Degree in Business Administration
- Associate Degree in Criminal Justice Technology
- Diploma in Healthcare Management Technology
- Certificate in Human Services Technology
5. Central Carolina Community College
This college in North Carolina offers regular and accelerated programs, including associate degrees and certificate courses. Full-time students can obtain an associate of arts degree in less than two years, then transfer their credits to a four-year college. The community college also offers fully online courses, such as those in human resource management and accounting.
Best Central Carolina Community College Programs
- Certificate in Office Management
- Associate Degree in Human Resources Management
- Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene
- Associate Degree in Forensic Science and Technology
- Associate of Applied Science in Business Administration
6. Montgomery Community College
Located in Troy, North Carolina, Montgomery Community College provides traditional courses as well as highly specialized courses. All incoming students must take a placement exam and, once admitted, will be provided with career training and academic advisors. Scholarships are available to community college students who maintain a minimum 2.5 grade point average throughout their undergraduate program.
Best Montgomery Community College Programs
- Associate Degree in Engineering Science
- Certificate in Taxidermy
- Associate Degree in Information Technology – Computer Programming
- Certificate in Dental Assisting
- Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education
7. Johnston Community College
This school runs partner programs with local organizations through its four learning centers in North Carolina, and is a leader in distance education courses. It employs financial advisors to help its students access financial aid and scholarships. Academic advisors are also on hand to guide students toward a suitable program, help them select a career path, and break into the job market.
Best Johnston Community College Programs
- Associate of Applied Science in Business Administration
- Associate Degree in Accounting and Finance
- Certificate in Educational Administration and Supervision
- Diploma in Legal Support Services
- Associate Degree in General Engineering
8. Western Piedmont Community College
Western Piedmont Community College’s transfer degree recipients receive guaranteed admission into institutions that are part of the University of North Carolina system, so the school has a high transfer rate. It also has an open-door admission policy and caters to over 7,000 students in its part-time and full-time programs. Students can take a wide range of fully online classes, hybrid courses, or in-person classes at the college campus.
Best Western Piedmont Community College Programs
- Associate in Applied Science in Computer Engineering Technology
- Diploma in Welding Technology
- Associate in Applied Science in Early Childhood Education
- Diploma in Industrial Systems Technology
- Associate in Applied Science in Nursing
9. Sandhills Community College
Flexible learning, high-quality education, and generous financial aid are synonymous with this college located in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Its faculty and alumni are famous for their engineering, criminal justice, and health services achievements. The school also has an open admission policy and a 13 to 1 student-teacher ratio.
Best Sandhills Community College Programs
- Associate of Applied Science in Massage Therapy
- Associate of Applied Science in Automotive Systems Technology
- Associate of Applied Science in Business Administration
- Certificate in Game Design and Interactive Media
- Certificate in Automotive Mechanics
10. Brunswick Community College
This school has a campus in Bolivia, North Carolina, as well as three other education centers across the state. Its students can obtain online degrees in arts, education, and more, with the option to transfer credits to a four-year college. Other school courses offered include engineering, health information technology, medical office administration, and human resources management.
Best Brunswick Community College Programs
- Associate Degree in Nursing
- Associate Degree in Engineering Science
- Associate in Arts – Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Associate in Science – Computer Science
- Associate Degree in Business Administration – General Business
Other NC Community College Rankings
North Carolina community colleges are excellent educational options if you’re looking for a virtual college experience. They offer fantastic career training options and partner programs. Eligible high school graduates can also access financial assistance from the state’s Longleaf Commitment Grant. If you’re on a school search for a North Carolina college that offers online programs, consider the options below.
Best Online Community Colleges in NC
- Craven Community College. College students at this institution can earn diplomas and online associate degrees in fields of study like criminal justice technology and medical office administration.
- Richmond Community College. This college offers hundreds of fully online classes with credits that can be transferred to four-year universities across the US.
- Wayne Community College. Wayne Community College is a public institution where students can obtain fully online degrees in courses like business administration and information technology.
- Forsyth Technical Community College. At this school, online students can complete professional licensing programs in fields like health information technology and supply chain management.
- Isothermal Community College. Prospective students must meet a few technical requirements to start online courses at Isothermal Community College. Once you meet them, you can obtain a degree, diploma, or certificate in your preferred field of study.
Best Community Colleges for Information Technology (IT) in NC
- Piedmont Community College. This college provides offline and online computer science and IT programs in programming, web design, and cyber security.
- Wake Technical Community College. Wake Tech is a great choice for those looking to become proficient in software development and computer programming.
- Blue Ridge Community College. Blue Ridge Community College provides practical experience to bolster students’ learning experience. Students can choose whether they want to attend their IT courses in person, or fully online.
- Lenoir Community College. The IT program offerings at this college are highly rated and can pave the way for high school graduates interested in the IT sector and related fields.
- Catawba Valley Community College. Catawba Valley Community College is one of the best tech community colleges in North Carolina. It provides diploma and associate degree programs for students who are interested in app development or those who want to become a cyber security engineer.
Should You Attend Community College in NC?
Yes. The NC community colleges listed above are well placed in national school rankings and offer affordable educational options. Plus, at most North Carolina-based two-year colleges, students will have access to a College & Career Readiness program to help them decide which career path to follow. A college education at a North Carolina community college can also help students get the college credits they need to transfer to a four-year institution.
Best NC Community Colleges FAQ
A community college is a two-year college that offers educational programs through which you can obtain an associate degree or a certificate. They offer a mix of online classes, in-person classes, and hybrid classes. Programs commonly found at community colleges include hospitality management, criminal justice technology, and health sciences.
You can take courses for college credit, learn important technology skills and career-relevant skills, and save money on tuition. You can also take online courses and attend technical training programs to improve your chances of getting into a public university or landing a job.
Yes, but it’s not the same as a university because most community colleges don’t have residential spaces for students. However, most students live near the school, and the colleges make an effort to liven up the school experience by building a sense of community.
Yes, a public university has larger class sizes and usually offers classes in more fields than a community college. Additionally, community colleges do not offer degrees at the bachelor level or higher like universities do. Since most community colleges are open-admission, they also have a much higher acceptance rate than universities.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
