Public Associate Strong 81/100

Wayne Community College

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

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Goldsboro, North Carolina

About Wayne Community College

Wayne Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Goldsboro, North Carolina. It enrolls 2,739 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
25.1%
Net Price
$2,245
Median Earnings (10yr)
$34,148
Enrollment
2,739
Student : Faculty
12:1

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

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong
81/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 56
Value 96
Affordability 74
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Wayne Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.

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

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Wayne Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $2,245 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$2,245
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
37%
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)
$2,566
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$8,710
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,350
Books & Supplies
$1,600
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,850
Total Cost of Attendance
$11,096

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
    $1,371
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $2,169
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $3,271
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $4,601
  • Over $110,000
    $7,179

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$1,750
10% percentile
$3,000
25% percentile
$6,500
Median percentile
$9,500
75% percentile
$15,500
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Dependent students $5,775 ↓ $725
Independent students $5,875 ↓ $625
Dependent students: 49.6% (3,222 students)Independent students: 50.4% (3,278 students)Overall Median$6,500
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, close to what completers borrow ($6,500) but without the degree to show for it.

Graduation Rate & Retention

25% of full-time students who enrolled at Wayne Community College graduate within six years, and 68% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
25%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
68%
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

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Wayne Community College earn a median of $34,148 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$34,148
Earning > $25K
58%
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$34,500$35,5006 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
$27,200

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

Male graduates
$36,300

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

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $9,100, 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.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 21.1 pts across 6 years
50%1yr50.9%3yr47.1%5yr71.1%7yr
What this signals: Strong. 71% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Wayne Community College is home to 2,739 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 47% are first-generation college students, 76% study part-time.

Total Enrolled
2,739
Part-Time
76%
First-Generation
47%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

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

GroupShareStudents
White 47.3% 1,295
Black 25.0% 685
Hispanic 23.1% 632
Other 2.6% 72
Asian 0.9% 24
International 0.7% 18
White: 47.3% (1,295 students)Black: 25.0% (685 students)Hispanic: 23.1% (632 students)Other: 2.6% (72 students)Asian: 0.9% (24 students)International: 0.7% (18 students)Total2,739

Student Life & Campus Culture

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

Setting
Small City Goldsboro, North Carolina
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
33% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Wayne Community College offers a varied set of programs: 39 distinct programs across 12 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
11 Programs
4 Programs
3 Programs
3 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Wayne Community College is 12:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,830
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$3.9M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$53,549
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

113 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 113 100% $53,549

Pros & Cons of Wayne Community College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Wayne Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Very affordable net price after aid
  • Open admissions
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Low typical debt at graduation
  • 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
  • Below-average post-graduation earnings
  • Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for: Based on the data, Wayne 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 Wayne Community College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Wayne Community College.

Is Wayne Community College hard to get into?
Wayne Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Wayne Community College?
Wayne Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Wayne Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Wayne Community College is $2,245 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Wayne Community College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $34,148 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $2,245 per year. That's roughly 15.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Wayne Community College known for?
Wayne Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Wayne Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Wayne Community College are $34,148, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Wayne Community College accredited?
Yes. Wayne Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Wayne Community College?
Wayne Community College enrolls 2,739 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Wayne Community College?
Wayne Community College graduates 25% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Wayne Community College a public or private college?
Wayne Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Wayne Community College located?
Wayne Community College is located in Goldsboro, North Carolina.
What programs does Wayne Community College offer?
Wayne Community College offers 39 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Wayne Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Wayne Community College is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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