C+
Above Average
Score: 59/100
Overall (traditional)
C+
Outcome Rating
64/100 · earnings-weighted

Wilkes Community College

2-Year Public
📍 Wilkesboro, North Carolina 28697
Outcomes
C+
61/100
Affordability
A
86/100
Resources
B+
75/100
Experience
D
35/100
Prestige
D
31/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

2,405
Total Enrollment
52%
Graduation Rate
75%
Retention Rate
8.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
N/A
Acceptance Rate
$3,190
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Wilkes Community College ▼

14% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value
$276,933
Avg Monthly Rent
$837
1-Year Change
+7.6%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Wilkes Community College, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$34,728
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$32,842
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$7,625
Median debt at graduation
55.4%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
45.5%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 22% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 66th percentile among certificate-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (NC wage index 0.87). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Wilkes Community College

Median pay of associate's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$62,962$68,076-16%#916 of 962#852—
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions—$57,849-12%#443 of 560#387—
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians$27,564$47,738-18%#164 of 176#154—
Criminal Justice and Corrections—$47,271+1%#210 of 426#136—
Business Administration, Management and Operations—$41,409-15%#424 of 547#393—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$25,681$34,852-21%#879 of 947#824—
Agricultural Production Operations—$31,127-27%#17 of 17#17—
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services—$30,091-29%#467 of 476#464—

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Wilkes Community College Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $276,933
  • Avg rent near campus: $837/mo
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 28636 (3.7% cap, Hiddenite)

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🏆 Where Wilkes Community College Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

🥇
Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production
of 7 schools
🥇
Applied Engineering Technologies/Technicians
of 1 schools
🥈
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection, Other
of 10 schools
#6
Baking and Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef
of 34 schools
#9
Medium/Heavy Vehicle and Truck Technology/Technician
of 28 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $2,432 $8,576

Financial Aid

95%
Receive Any Aid
58%
Receive Pell Grants
0%
Take Out Loans
$3,190
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$30,001 - $48,000$563
$48,001 - $75,000$1,855
$75,001 - $110,000$982

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Business Administration and Management, General 178 grads/yr Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 157 grads/yr Welding Technology/Welder 86 grads/yr Information Technology 59 grads/yr Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician 57 grads/yr Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection, Other 54 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Safety Studies 49 grads/yr Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production 45 grads/yr Early Childhood Education and Teaching 41 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Police Science 38 grads/yr Baking and Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef 35 grads/yr Graphic Design 30 grads/yr Applied Engineering Technologies/Technicians 30 grads/yr Medium/Heavy Vehicle and Truck Technology/Technician 29 grads/yr Human Services, General 28 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 27 grads/yr Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations 24 grads/yr Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations, General 22 grads/yr Accounting and Finance 22 grads/yr Culinary Arts/Chef Training 22 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Wilkes Community College's top programs commonly pursue.

Chief executives
$206k/yr 309,400 jobs
Compensation and benefits managers
$140k/yr 20,900 jobs
Human resources managers
$140k/yr 221,900 jobs
Sales managers
$138k/yr 619,500 jobs
Managers, all other
$137k/yr 1,333,700 jobs
Training and development managers
$127k/yr 46,400 jobs
Industrial production managers
$121k/yr 241,900 jobs
Administrative services managers
$108k/yr 271,200 jobs

Student Demographics

2,405
Total Students
57%
Women
52%
Traditional Age (18-24)
14%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 79%
Hispanic 13%
Black 3%
Asian 1%
Two or More 2%

🏠 Living Arrangements

Off-Campus (Renters) 14%
With Family 86%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~332 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 36%
Hybrid (Some Online) 34%
Fully Online 30%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 52%
25-64 (Adult) 13%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Wilkes Community College?
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution. Many schools with open enrollment or specialized programs do not report traditional acceptance rates.
How much does it cost to attend Wilkes Community College?
Tuition at Wilkes Community College is $2,432 for in-state students and $8,576 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $3,190.
What is the graduation rate at Wilkes Community College?
The graduation rate at Wilkes Community College is 52%. This graduation rate is below average. Consider factors like program type and student demographics when evaluating.
Is Wilkes Community College a good school?
Wilkes Community College has a Repit College Score of 59/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (A): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (B+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (D): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Wilkes Community College?
Wilkes Community College has a total enrollment of 2,405 students.
Is there rental demand near Wilkes Community College?
Yes! Approximately 14% of students at Wilkes Community College live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 332 students who need rental housing near campus.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Wilkes Community College — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Wilkes Community College

Compare with other 2-Year public institutions of similar size.

C+
Wayne Community College
Goldsboro, NC · 2,883 students
C+
Stanly Community College
Albemarle, NC · 2,527 students
C+
Southwestern Community College
Sylva, NC · 2,109 students
C+
Montgomery Community College
Troy, NC · 1,085 students
C+
Central Carolina Community College
Sanford, NC · 5,574 students
C+
Edgecombe Community College
Tarboro, NC · 1,036 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology