2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina
There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamp that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 50 schools in North Carolina to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for students. To come up with a school's ranking, we analyzed numerous factors related to post-graduation wages, the quality of education offered by the school, average accumulated student debt, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named North Carolina State University the best school in North Carolina for students working on their associate degree.
Full-time students from North Carolina pay an average of $9,131 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend NC State. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $29,916. On average, associate degree students take out $15,849 in loans while pursuing their degree.
NC State does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 95% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
The excellent associate degree programs at Campbell University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in North Carolina.
The average tuition and fees at Campbell is $38,160. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $23,557 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Campbell does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 25% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend South Piedmont Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina list.
Students from North Carolina who attend South Piedmont Community College full time pay an average of $2,015 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,623. Associate Degree recipients from South Piedmont Community College accumulate an average of $12,967 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
South Piedmont Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 83% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
The excellent associate degree programs at Strayer University - North Carolina helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in North Carolina.
Strayer University - North Carolina does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $13,515. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $30,752 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, Strayer University - North Carolina is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Wake Technical Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina list.
Full-time students from North Carolina pay an average of $2,768 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Wake Technical Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,912. On average, associate degree students take out $22,857 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Wake Technical Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 94% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Central Piedmont Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina list.
In-state students pay an average of $2,792 in tuition and fees if they attend Central Piedmont Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,936. On average, associate degree students take out $13,022 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Central Piedmont Community College. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #7, Alamance Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Full-time students from North Carolina pay an average of $2,310 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend ACC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,070. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,359 in student loans.
ACC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 99% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at CCCTI is $2,537. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,681. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,798 in student loans.
CCCTI does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 67% took at least some of their classes online.
Read full report on Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
With a ranking of #9, Craven Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Craven Community College is $2,022. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,630. On average, associate degree students take out $13,946 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Craven Community College. In fact, around 83% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Lenoir Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #10 on the list.
In-state students pay an average of $2,568 in tuition and fees if they attend Lenoir Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,712. On average, associate degree students take out $14,861 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Lenoir Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 96% took at least some of their classes online.
Beaufort County Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
In-state students pay an average of $2,518 in tuition and fees if they attend Beaufort County Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,662. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,327 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Beaufort County Community College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 62% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Cleveland Community College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
Full-time students from North Carolina pay an average of $2,602 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Cleveland Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,746. Associate Degree recipients from Cleveland Community College accumulate an average of $12,302 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Cleveland Community College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 99% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Gaston College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina ranking.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Gaston College is $2,862. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,006. Associate Degree recipients from Gaston College accumulate an average of $10,582 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Gaston College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 87% took at least some of their classes online.
Mitchell Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #14 on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Mitchell Community College is $2,651. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,795. On average, associate degree students take out $14,331 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Mitchell Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 96% took at least some of their classes online.
Johnston Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina list.
In-state students pay an average of $2,657 in tuition and fees if they attend Johnston Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,801. Associate Degree recipients from Johnston Community College accumulate an average of $13,306 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Johnston Community College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 85% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #16, Central Carolina Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Full-time students from North Carolina pay an average of $2,554 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Central Carolina Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,698. On average, associate degree students take out $11,048 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Central Carolina Community College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 98% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Brunswick Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina list.
Full-time students from North Carolina pay an average of $2,532 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Brunswick Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,676. On average, associate degree students take out $9,954 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Brunswick Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 99% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Durham Technical Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina list.
In-state students pay an average of $2,228 in tuition and fees if they attend Durham Technical Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,479. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,974 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Durham Technical Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 98% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #19, Guilford Technical Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Students from North Carolina who attend Guilford Technical Community College full time pay an average of $2,289 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,665. On average, associate degree students take out $23,911 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Guilford Technical Community College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 74% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Wayne Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Wayne Community College is $2,524. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,668. On average, associate degree students take out $8,182 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Wayne Community College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 98% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #21, Surry Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
In-state students pay an average of $2,663 in tuition and fees if they attend Surry Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,807. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,403 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Surry Community College. In fact, around 95% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Catawba Valley Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #22 on the list.
In-state students pay an average of $2,367 in tuition and fees if they attend CVCC full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,743. Associate Degree recipients from CVCC accumulate an average of $14,680 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that CVCC does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 95% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Montgomery Community College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at MCC is $2,538. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,682.
Some students may be able to take online classes at MCC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 68% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Richmond Community College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina list.
Full-time students from North Carolina pay an average of $2,536 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Richmond Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,680. Associate Degree recipients from Richmond Community College accumulate an average of $10,348 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Richmond Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 64% took at least some of their classes online.
Pitt Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina list.
Students from North Carolina who attend Pitt Community College full time pay an average of $1,940 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,548. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,602 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Pitt Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 91% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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