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Community-college tuition in North Carolina

Published in-state tuition for community colleges in North Carolina, ranked highest to lowest. Use this as a quick reference for comparing the published price tag across institutions; for a full picture of what you'll actually pay, see each college's profile and our cost-and-aid guide for North Carolina.

  1. Johnson & Wales University-CharlotteCharlotte, NC$42,419
  2. Louisburg CollegeLouisburg, NC$24,120
  3. Carolinas College of Health SciencesCharlotte, NC$18,882
  4. South University-High PointHigh Point, NC$18,145
  5. Galen Health Institutes-AshevilleAsheville, NC$17,048
  6. Cabarrus College of Health SciencesConcord, NC$16,550
  7. Sampson Community CollegeClinton, NC$2,877
  8. Cape Fear Community CollegeWilmington, NC$2,748
  9. Central Carolina Community CollegeSanford, NC$2,711
  10. Western Piedmont Community CollegeMorganton, NC$2,650
  11. Roanoke-Chowan Community CollegeAhoskie, NC$2,642
  12. Tri-County Community CollegeMurphy, NC$2,636
  13. Mayland Community CollegeSpruce Pine, NC$2,626
  14. Bladen Community CollegeDublin, NC$2,618
  15. Halifax Community CollegeWeldon, NC$2,608
  16. Cleveland Community CollegeShelby, NC$2,602
  17. Southeastern Community CollegeWhiteville, NC$2,600
  18. Robeson Community CollegeLumberton, NC$2,581
  19. Haywood Community CollegeClyde, NC$2,580
  20. Pitt Community CollegeWinterville, NC$2,580
  21. Wilson Community CollegeWilson, NC$2,572
  22. Piedmont Community CollegeRoxboro, NC$2,556
  23. Brunswick Community CollegeBolivia, NC$2,553
  24. Caldwell Community College and Technical InstituteHudson, NC$2,526
  25. Coastal Carolina Community CollegeJacksonville, NC$2,512
  26. Catawba Valley Community CollegeHickory, NC$2,427
  27. Guilford Technical Community CollegeJamestown, NC$2,320
  28. Forsyth Technical Community CollegeWinston-Salem, NC$2,276
  29. College of the AlbemarleElizabeth City, NC$2,242
  30. Sandhills Community CollegePinehurst, NC$2,040
  31. McDowell Technical Community CollegeMarion, NC$2,032
  32. Craven Community CollegeNew Bern, NC$2,022
  33. South Piedmont Community CollegePolkton, NC$2,022
  34. Durham Technical Community CollegeDurham, NC$1,986
  35. Rockingham Community CollegeWentworth, NC$1,966
  36. Vance-Granville Community CollegeHenderson, NC$1,944

How to read this table

The published rate is what the institution charges before financial aid is applied. North Carolina community colleges are funded through a combination of state appropriations, local tax support (in many states), and student tuition; the public colleges on this list are required to publish their tuition schedules and report them annually to the U.S. Department of Education. Private nonprofit and private for-profit two-year colleges in North Carolina report similarly but may not benefit from state subsidy, which is why their tuition rates can be substantially higher.

Tuition alone is the smallest component of a community-college cost decision for most students. The full annual cost of attendance — including required fees, books, supplies, transportation, and (when applicable) room and board — is consistently several times the tuition figure shown here. Federal Pell Grants, state grant programs in North Carolina, and institutional aid typically reduce the out-of-pocket cost dramatically, often to zero for the lowest-income students. Always file the FAFSA before you decide which community college is most affordable for you personally; the answer based on real cost is frequently different from the answer based on sticker price.

If you are not a North Carolina resident, expect a meaningfully higher tuition rate at most public community colleges in the state. Out-of-state tuition is reported on each college's full profile.