Public Associate Strong 72/100

Central Carolina Community College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Sanford, North Carolina

About Central Carolina Community College

Thinking about Central Carolina Community College, a college in North Carolina where more students graduate in Liberal Arts than anything else? The four things worth knowing are what it actually costs after aid, whether you would get in, whether students finish, and what they earn after they do.

Central Carolina Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Sanford, North Carolina. It enrolls 3,237 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
21%
Net Price
$5,446
Median Earnings (10yr)
$33,525
Enrollment
3,237
Student : Faculty
13:1

Accreditor Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (2-Year), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.

Strong
72/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 54
Value 77
Affordability 53
Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Central Carolina Community College admits essentially everyone who qualifies, so plan around cost and completion instead of your odds of getting in.

Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $5,446 a year on average, it sits well below what public colleges charge nationally. At that level cost is rarely the reason to rule a college out. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.

The average hides a wide spread by household income, so it is worth estimating what a family at your income would actually pay before treating this as the price.

Average Net Price
$5,446
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
26%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
0%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$2,711
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$8,855
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,643
Books & Supplies
$1,470
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$8,214
Total Cost of Attendance
$14,901

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $4,326
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $4,660
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $6,961
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $8,936
  • Over $110,000
    $12,542
What this means: 26% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.

Graduation Rate & Retention

21% of students who start here finish within six years, and 70% come back after first year. Most students who start here do not finish. That is the single most important number on this page. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.

6-Year Graduation Rate
21%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
70%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $33,525 a year, below the national median. Weigh that against the cost above before taking on debt here. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$33,525
Earning > $25K
56%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$29,000$30,500$31,500$33,000$34,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$25,400

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$34,200

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $8,800, about 26% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means: Strong return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$6.2 of median earnings 10 years out.

Who Studies Here

Who you would actually be sitting next to: 3,237 students, a mid-sized community. Worth knowing: 46% are the first in their family to go to college, and 62% study part-time, so many are working alongside classes.

Total Enrolled
3,237
Part-Time
62%
First-Generation
46%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 49.4% 1,598
Hispanic 24.3% 786
Black 18.6% 602
Other 5.7% 183
Asian 1.1% 36
White: 49.4% (1,598 students)Hispanic: 24.3% (786 students)Black: 18.6% (602 students)Other: 5.7% (183 students)Asian: 1.1% (36 students)Total3,237

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Central Carolina Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Town: Distant Sanford, North Carolina
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
19% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

After that comes the national picture for Health graduates, which shows what the field pays across every college rather than just this one.

Central Carolina Community College offers an extensive catalog of programs: 52 distinct programs across 17 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

1 Program
10 Programs
4 Programs
3 Programs
4 Programs
2 Programs

Faculty & Resources

There are 13 students for every instructor here: about average, so expect a mix of small seminars and big lectures.

Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,160
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$6.4M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$54,344
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

163 instructional faculty across 1 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
No Rank 163 100% $54,344

Pros & Cons of Central Carolina Community College

No college is right for everyone. Here is where Central Carolina Community College is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.

Read against a single profile these cut both ways, which is why it helps to put two colleges side by side on the same measures rather than judging one in isolation.

PROS
  • Very affordable net price after aid
  • Open admissions
  • Reasonable class sizes
  • First-gen-friendly student body
  • Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • Modest first-year retention
  • Below-average post-graduation earnings
  • Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for: Based on the data, Central Carolina Community College is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Carolina Community College

The questions families ask most about Central Carolina Community College, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.

Is Central Carolina Community College hard to get into?
Not especially. Central Carolina Community College admits most qualified applicants, and reports no competitive acceptance rate. Plan around cost and whether students finish, not your odds of getting in.
What is the acceptance rate at Central Carolina Community College?
No acceptance rate is reported, which for a college like this normally means admission is open to anyone meeting the basic requirements. Confirm with the admissions office rather than assuming it.
How much does Central Carolina Community College cost?
Budget around $5,446 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Central Carolina Community College worth it?
On the numbers, yes: strong return on investment. Ten years in, the median graduate earns $33,525 a year against a net price of $5,446, about 6.2 dollars of earnings for every dollar of annual cost. That ratio ignores whether you finish and what you study, which matter just as much. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Central Carolina Community College known for?
Mostly Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Nursing. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What do Central Carolina Community College graduates earn?
About $33,525 a year, measured ten years after students first enrolled. Half earn more and half earn less, and what you study moves that figure far more than where you study. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Central Carolina Community College accredited?
Yes. Central Carolina Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Central Carolina Community College?
3,237 students. Big enough for a wide course catalogue without feeling anonymous. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What is the graduation rate at Central Carolina Community College?
21% finish within six years. That means most students do not finish in six years. Ask the school directly what support exists for students who fall behind. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Central Carolina Community College a public or private college?
It is Public. Public, so in-state students usually pay materially less than everyone else.
Where is Central Carolina Community College located?
Central Carolina Community College is located in Sanford, North Carolina.
What programs does Central Carolina Community College offer?
52 different programs, most commonly Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Nursing. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Central Carolina Community College?
13 students per instructor. About average, so a mix of seminars and larger lectures. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

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