At $616/yr net price, Central Carolina Community College graduates earn $33,525/yr within 10 years of enrollment.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $616 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $2,464 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $33,525/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | $-475/yr |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 41.3% |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $279/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $573/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $1,048/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $2,349/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $56,234 | |
| Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians. | Associate | $46,673 | |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. | Certificate | $32,925 | |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Associate | $32,382 | |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Associate | $30,228 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Associate | $28,960 | |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Associate | $28,019 | |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians. | Associate | $27,874 | |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Associate | $23,649 | |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Associate | $23,262 |
The Risk Factor
41.3% of students at Central Carolina Community College graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Central Carolina Community College is close to free, and that changes how you should read every other number here. At $616 a year, your financial risk is small even if the median earnings look modest. The typical graduate earns about $33,500 a decade out, which is not a strong salary on its own, but you spent almost nothing to get there. That flips the usual community college math: the danger isn't debt, it's picking a program that leaves you at the low end.
Program choice is where your outcome is decided. The associate in Registered Nursing pays around $56,000, and Electrical Engineering Technologies clears $46,000. Those two are the payoff programs. Below them, the drop is steep. Accounting and Allied Health/Medical Assisting associate degrees land near $30,000 to $32,000, and the practical nursing certificate sits at about $33,000. That means an associate degree in accounting here earns you roughly what the shorter, cheaper nursing certificate does, so the extra time is the cost you should weigh.
The main risk is the 41% graduation rate. Since the degree is what separates the $56,000 nursing track from the $30,000 tier, not finishing wipes out most of the benefit while still costing you time.
The net price tiers are gentle across the board. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay about $279 a year. even at $75,000 to $110,000 you're around $2,349. No income band faces a real financial barrier here.
This school fits you if you enroll in nursing or electrical engineering technology and finish. If you're aiming at accounting or medical assisting, the near-zero cost still makes it reasonable, but expect a modest salary and treat it as a step toward transfer, not an endpoint.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Central Carolina Community College worth the cost?
With a net price of just $616 per year, Central Carolina Community College offers strong value for students who complete programs. The low cost makes it one of the most affordable pathways to career training, though only 41% of students graduate.
What programs at Central Carolina Community College have the best ROI?
The Registered Nursing program leads with graduates earning $56,234 annually, followed by Electrical Engineering Technology at $46,673. These technical and healthcare programs significantly outperform the school's overall graduate earnings of $33,525.
How much debt do Central Carolina Community College graduates have?
The extremely low net price of $616 per year means most students can avoid significant debt. This makes Central Carolina Community College a low-risk option even for programs with modest earning potential.
Do Central Carolina Community College graduates get good jobs?
Graduate outcomes vary widely by program at Central Carolina Community College. Nursing and electrical technology graduates do well, but other programs like Allied Health lead to earnings around $30,000, which may not provide strong career advancement.