Southeastern Community College: $2,600 Tuition

$2,600Tuition

821Students

51%Grad Rate (6-yr)

$30,284Earnings

Public2-yearNCCAAData: 2023-24

About Southeastern Community College

Southeastern Community College serves 821 students in rural North Carolina with a focus on career training and transfer preparation. The college has built its reputation around practical workforce development programs that connect directly to regional employers. Nearly all students (99%) come from North Carolina, creating a tight-knit community atmosphere in Whiteville's small-town setting.

Students pay an average net price of $4,474 after financial aid, making this one of the more affordable paths to higher education in the state. In-state tuition runs just $2,600 before aid kicks in. Graduates earn a median of $30,284 ten years after enrollment, which represents solid returns for a two-year investment. The employment rate hits 92.4%, showing strong job placement success. However, only 21.52% of students successfully repay their loans, suggesting some financial challenges post-graduation.

Women make up 70% of the student body, reflecting the college's strength in healthcare and education programs that traditionally attract female students. The student-faculty ratio of 14:1 allows for personalized attention that's harder to find at larger institutions. With just 49 athletes across two varsity sports, this isn't a place for big-time college athletics, but rather focused academic and career preparation.

Academics & Faculty

Southeastern Community College focuses on workforce development and transfer preparation for students across rural southeastern North Carolina. The college maintains a 14:1 student-faculty ratio, providing personalized attention in small classes typical of community colleges. With a 51% six-year graduation rate, the school serves students who often balance work and family responsibilities while pursuing degrees. The college emphasizes career training programs that prepare students for local industries, alongside university transfer pathways. Women make up 70% of the student body, reflecting the college's strong programs in healthcare and human services fields. Nearly all students are North Carolina residents drawn to affordable, practical education close to home.

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

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 14:1
Full-Time Faculty: 30.8%
Graduation Rate (6-year): 51.0%
Median Earnings (10 years): $30,284

Popular Programs by Earnings

Popular programs by earnings
Program	Level	Median Earnings
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	Associate	$51,607
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions.	Certificate	$25,967

View all 42 programs →

Campus Life

Whiteville sits about 100 miles from both Charlotte and Wilmington, putting this small-town college in tobacco and blueberry farming country. The campus serves 821 students on a compact rural setting where everyone knows each other. You'll need light jackets for winter but can count on warm, humid summers typical of southeastern North Carolina. Nearly all students (99%) come from in-state, creating a tight-knit community feel.

Women make up 70% of the student body, reflecting the college's strong health sciences and education programs. Most students commute from surrounding Columbus County towns since campus housing is limited. The 14:1 student-faculty ratio means professors know your name and career goals. Weekends often revolve around the two NCCAA athletic teams or trips to nearby Lake Waccamaw for outdoor recreation. The 92% employment rate speaks to strong local employer connections. With 45% of students receiving Pell Grants and in-state tuition at just $2,600, this college attracts working-class students serious about career training and transferring to four-year universities.

Setting: Rural-Distant
Calendar System: Semester
Founded: 1967

Campus Safety (2023)

No reported Clery Act crimes in 2023.

Climate & Weather

January Avg: 31°–54°F
July Avg: 69°–90°F
Annual Precipitation: 50.9"
Annual Snowfall: 1.2"

Student Demographics

Women make up more than two-thirds of the student body at Southeastern Community College, reflecting the school's strong programs in healthcare and education that traditionally attract female students. Nearly all students come from North Carolina, with 99% holding in-state status. The college draws from diverse backgrounds across southeastern North Carolina, with significant representation from both white and Black communities. Nearly half of students receive Pell Grants, showing the college serves working families seeking affordable career training. This mix creates a close-knit learning environment where local residents pursue practical skills for immediate employment.

Men: 29.6%
Women: 70.4%
White: 56.5%
Black: 25.7%
Hispanic: 6.5%
Asian: 0.2%
In-State Students: 99.0%
Pell Grant Recipients: 45.4%

Location

Southeastern Community College sits in Whiteville, North Carolina, about 60 miles northwest of Wilmington and roughly 100 miles from Charlotte. The rural town of around 5,400 residents serves as the Columbus County seat in a region known for agriculture and timber production. Nearly all students come from in-state, reflecting the college's deep local roots in this southeastern corner of North Carolina. The area offers small-town living with outdoor recreation opportunities along the Cape Fear River basin. Students find themselves in tobacco and sweet potato farming country, far from major metropolitan areas. The college draws from surrounding rural communities where traditional industries still shape the local economy. Students considering colleges in North Carolina may also compare Southeastern Community College with similar schools in the region.

Address: Whiteville, North Carolina 28472-5422

After College

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

Median Earnings (10 years): $30,284
Median Earnings (5 years): $41,209
Mean Earnings (6 years after entry): $22,400
Loan Repayment Rate: 21.5%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the admission requirements at Southeastern Community College?

Southeastern Community College maintains an open-door admission policy typical of community colleges, serving 821 students across southeastern North Carolina. The college focuses on providing accessible education to local residents, with 99.02% of students coming from in-state.

How much does Southeastern Community College cost after financial aid?

Students pay an average net price of $4,474 annually at Southeastern Community College. Nearly half of all students (45.35%) receive Pell Grants, making this rural institution particularly affordable for low-income families in the region.

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

The student-faculty ratio stands at 14:1, providing relatively small class sizes for personalized attention. The college operates on a semester system and serves a diverse student body that is 70.40% women and includes significant representation from underserved communities.

What are the job prospects after graduating from Southeastern Community College?

Graduates achieve a strong 92.4% employment rate, reflecting the college's focus on career training programs. However, median earnings of $30,284 ten years after enrollment indicate the college primarily serves students entering mid-level technical and service careers.

Where is Southeastern Community College located and what is campus life like?

The college sits in rural Whiteville, North Carolina, serving the agricultural and small-town communities of the southeastern region. With only 49 total athletes competing in 2 varsity sports through the NCCAA, campus life centers more on academics and career preparation than athletics.

Does Southeastern Community College have good graduation rates for a community college?

The college posts a 51% six-year graduation rate, which is solid for a rural community college serving many first-generation students. Founded in 1967, the institution has built a reputation for helping local residents gain skills for immediate employment or transfer to four-year universities.