Is Robeson Community College Worth It?

Robeson Community College keeps costs low, and the health programs are where your money goes furthest. At just over $5,000 a year, your out-of-pocket investment is small, but the median 10-year earnings of $29,036 tell you the payoff depends heavily on which program you pick. Pick wrong and the return is thin.

Nursing is the clear winner here. A registered nursing associate degree leads to roughly $52,000 a year, and allied health lands close behind. These two programs nearly double the school-wide median, and they map directly onto steady healthcare demand in and around Lumberton. If you finish one of these, the math works strongly in your favor.

Below health, the returns fall off fast. Criminal justice pays in the low-to-mid $30,000s, and the associate version actually earns less than the certificate. Business administration is the weakest of the top programs at under $26,000 a year, barely above where you'd land without the credential. If you enroll here for business, expect a modest financial return.

The biggest risk at Robeson is the 29.9% graduation rate. Seven in ten students don't finish on time, and the strong nursing earnings only apply if you make it to the degree. Low cost softens the blow if you leave, but you still walk away with loans and no credential.

The net price tiers stay affordable even as income rises, moving from about $4,700 for families under $30k to around $8,100 in the $75-110k range. For lower-income families, this is one of the cheaper paths into a nursing career in the region.

This school fits you if you're targeting nursing or allied health and can commit to finishing. If you're leaning toward business or an associate in criminal justice, weigh the low cost against earnings that stay near the local baseline.