Craven Community College: $2,022 Tuition

$2,022Tuition

1,877Students

46%Grad Rate (6-yr)

$34,231Earnings

Public2-yearStudy AbroadData: 2023-24

About Craven Community College

This coastal Carolina community college serves 1,877 students in the historic port town of New Bern. The college focuses heavily on career training and workforce development for eastern North Carolina's maritime and manufacturing industries. Women make up 61% of the student body, reflecting strong enrollment in the college's popular nursing and healthcare programs. Nearly 93% of students come from in-state, creating a tight-knit community atmosphere.

Students pay an average net price of $4,402 after financial aid, making this one of the most affordable college options in North Carolina. In-state tuition costs just $2,022 annually. Graduates earn a median of $34,231 ten years after enrollment, which provides solid returns on the modest investment. About 34% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating the college serves many first-generation and low-income students. The 87% employment rate shows strong job placement success.

The student-faculty ratio of 13:1 allows for personalized attention in technical programs. However, the 46% six-year graduation rate suggests many students face challenges completing their programs. Only 30% of borrowers successfully repay their federal loans, though the federal loan rate is 0%, meaning most students avoid debt entirely.

Academics & Faculty

Craven Community College serves the historic coastal town of New Bern with practical career training and transfer preparation. The 13:1 student-faculty ratio provides personal attention that many four-year universities cannot match. With 45.80% of students completing their programs within six years, the college succeeds with a diverse student body where 61.05% are women and nearly one-third receive Pell Grants. The college emphasizes workforce development for eastern North Carolina's maritime and healthcare industries. Students can pursue nursing, marine technology, and culinary arts alongside traditional academic transfer programs. The semester system allows flexibility for working adults who make up a significant portion of the 1,877 enrolled students.

Source: College Scorecard / U.S. Department of Education

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 13:1
Full-Time Faculty: 28.0%
Graduation Rate (6-year): 45.8%
Median Earnings (10 years): $34,231

Popular Programs by Earnings

Popular programs by earnings
Program	Level	Median Earnings
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	Associate	$53,179
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services.	Associate	$39,369
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.	Associate	$23,649
Health and Medical Administrative Services.	Associate	$22,420

View all 41 programs →

Campus Life

Students at Craven Community College navigate a compact campus in New Bern, a historic riverside town about 100 miles east of Raleigh. With 1,877 students spread across a commuter college, you'll find small classes averaging 13 students per instructor. The campus sits in North Carolina's coastal plain, where summers demand air conditioning and winters require light jackets but rarely heavy coats.

Nearly 93% of students come from in-state, creating a tight-knit community feel despite the lack of dormitories. Women make up 61% of the student body, and the college draws heavily from the surrounding rural counties. Students often work part-time jobs in New Bern's tourism industry or nearby Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. Weekends revolve around the Neuse and Trent Rivers, where students fish, boat, or explore the town's colonial architecture. The nearby Croatan National Forest provides hiking trails and camping spots. Many students transfer to East Carolina University or NC State after completing their associate degrees, while others enter the workforce with career-focused certificates in nursing, automotive technology, or marine trades.

Setting: Town-Distant
Calendar System: Semester
Study Abroad: Available
Founded: 1965

Campus Safety (2023)

No reported Clery Act crimes in 2023.

Climate & Weather

January Avg: 33°–54°F
July Avg: 71°–89°F
Annual Precipitation: 106.4"
Annual Snowfall: 1.5"

Student Demographics

This coastal North Carolina community college draws overwhelmingly from local families, with nearly 93% of students calling the state home. Women make up about 61% of the student body, reflecting the college's strong nursing and health programs that attract female students. The school serves a diverse mix of working-class families, with more than one-third receiving Pell Grants for low-income students. The racial composition mirrors eastern North Carolina's demographics, creating a learning environment where White, Black, and Hispanic students study alongside each other in career-focused programs.

Men: 39.0%
Women: 61.1%
White: 54.7%
Black: 18.5%
Hispanic: 11.4%
Asian: 3.8%
In-State Students: 92.9%
Pell Grant Recipients: 34.3%

Location

New Bern sits along North Carolina's coast, about 115 miles southeast of Raleigh. This historic town of 30,000 residents serves as the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola and features colonial architecture dating to the early 1700s. The Neuse and Trent rivers converge here, creating waterfront access for boating and fishing. With 92.91% of students coming from in-state, Craven Community College draws heavily from eastern North Carolina's rural and coastal communities. The setting offers small-town charm while remaining connected to larger cities. Students pay just $2,022 for in-state tuition in this river town environment. Students considering colleges in North Carolina may also compare Craven Community College with similar schools in the region.

Address: New Bern, North Carolina 28562-4900

After College

Source: College Scorecard / U.S. Department of Education

Median Earnings (10 years): $34,231
Median Earnings (5 years): $38,699
Mean Earnings (6 years after entry): $26,100
Loan Repayment Rate: 29.6%

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Craven Community College cost after financial aid?

Students pay an average net price of $4,402 annually at Craven Community College. The college keeps costs accessible with in-state tuition at just $2,022 per year, though only 34.26% of students receive financial aid.

What is the student-faculty ratio at Craven Community College?

Craven Community College maintains a 13:1 student-faculty ratio across its 1,877 enrolled students. The college operates on a semester calendar system and focuses on hands-on learning in technical and transfer programs.

What are the graduation outcomes at Craven Community College?

The six-year graduation rate stands at 45.80% for students at Craven Community College. Graduates earn a median salary of $34,231 ten years after enrollment, with an employment rate of 87.1% reflecting strong workforce preparation.

Where is Craven Community College located and who attends?

Craven Community College sits in New Bern, North Carolina, serving a student body that is 92.91% in-state residents. Women make up 61.05% of enrollment, while the student population is 54.66% white and 18.54% Black.

Does Craven Community College offer good value for working students?

Founded in 1965, Craven Community College serves as an affordable pathway to four-year degrees and technical careers. Students from families earning under $30,000 pay a net price of only $3,923, making higher education accessible to the local workforce.

What makes Craven Community College unique for loan debt?

Remarkably, Craven Community College reports a 0.00% federal loan rate among its students. This unusually low borrowing rate reflects the college's mission of providing affordable education without burdening students with significant debt.