Public Associate Good 68/100

Gaston College

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

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Dallas, North Carolina

About Gaston College

Thinking about Gaston 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.

Gaston College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Dallas, North Carolina. It enrolls 3,518 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
19.5%
Net Price
$6,592
Median Earnings (10yr)
$35,386
Enrollment
3,518
Student : Faculty
15:1

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.

Good
68/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 47
Value 71
Affordability 49
Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Gaston 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 $6,592 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
$6,592
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)
$3,186
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$9,330
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,018
Books & Supplies
$1,470
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,250
Total Cost of Attendance
$16,866

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
    $5,784
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $5,579
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $8,432
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $10,952
  • Over $110,000
    $13,399
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

20% of students who start here finish within six years, and 58% 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
20%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
58%
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 $35,386 a year, close to the national median. Typical for most colleges, so what you study will matter more than where. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$35,386
Earning > $25K
59%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

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

$31,500$32,500$33,500$35,000$36,0006 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
$26,600

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

Male graduates
$35,600

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

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $9,000, about 25% 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 ~$5.4 of median earnings 10 years out.

Who Studies Here

Who you would actually be sitting next to: 3,518 students, a mid-sized community. Worth knowing: 48% are the first in their family to go to college, and 61% study part-time, so many are working alongside classes.

Total Enrolled
3,518
Part-Time
61%
First-Generation
48%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

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

GroupShareStudents
White 51.1% 1,796
Black 19.5% 687
Hispanic 12.1% 424
Other 3.6% 128
Asian 1.0% 35
International 0.9% 33
White: 51.1% (1,796 students)Black: 19.5% (687 students)Hispanic: 12.1% (424 students)Other: 3.6% (128 students)Asian: 1.0% (35 students)International: 0.9% (33 students)Total3,518

Student Life & Campus Culture

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

Setting
Midsize Suburb Dallas, North Carolina
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
23% 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.

Gaston College offers an extensive catalog of programs: 44 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
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

There are 15 students for every instructor here: about average, so expect a mix of small seminars and big lectures.

Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,704
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$6.0M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$55,787
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

142 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 142 100% $55,787

Pros & Cons of Gaston College

No college is right for everyone. Here is where Gaston 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
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
  • Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for: Based on the data, Gaston 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 Gaston College

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

Is Gaston College hard to get into?
Not especially. Gaston 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 Gaston 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 Gaston College cost?
Budget around $6,592 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 Gaston College worth it?
On the numbers, yes: strong return on investment. Ten years in, the median graduate earns $35,386 a year against a net price of $6,592, about 5.4 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 Gaston College known for?
Mostly Liberal Arts, Nursing, Practical 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 Gaston College graduates earn?
About $35,386 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 Gaston College accredited?
Yes. Gaston College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Gaston College?
3,518 students. Big enough for a wide course catalogue without feeling anonymous. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What is the graduation rate at Gaston College?
20% 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 Gaston College a public or private college?
It is Public. Public, so in-state students usually pay materially less than everyone else.
Where is Gaston College located?
Gaston College is located in Dallas, North Carolina.
What programs does Gaston College offer?
44 different programs, most commonly Liberal Arts, Nursing, Practical 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 Gaston College?
15 students per instructor. About average, so a mix of seminars and larger lectures. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

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