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Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute

Public Hudson, NC · Suburban · Southeast · 87% data
B Affordability C+ Value D+ Earnings
Graduation Rate
42% D+
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$34,515 D+
Below average for college graduates
Net Price
$10,810 B
37% less than the typical college
Enrollment
2,393
Earnings -15% vs avg
Graduation -26% vs avg
Net Price +-37% vs avg
Mobility Top 82%

Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 18.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.3 over 20 years.

18.3× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $18.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $747,418.

What The Data Says

  1. A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduation of 42% — 26% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $18.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public Community College
Carnegie Class
Associate's College
Enrollment
2,393
Setting
Suburban
Primary Strengths
Humanities, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT, Business & Marketing

Why students choose Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute

Strength in Humanities
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C-
Top 59% overall
D+
Earnings
$34,515 median
C+
Value
3.2× net price
B
Affordability
$10,810/yr net
D+
Graduation
42% graduate
D
Social Mobility
0.9% climb Q1→Q5
D+
Diversity
0.46 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute serves around 2,400 students, making it a solid choice for those seeking a close-knit environment where they can dive into practical programs like Health Professions, Culinary Arts, and Mechanic & Repair Tech. The 42% graduation rate indicates that while the path can be challenging, many students do find their way to success. This school is designed for individuals who prefer hands-on learning and want to gain skills that lead directly to employment.

After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $34,515 a year within ten years. This figure is a reminder that many graduates find stable jobs and can build a life around their chosen careers. Affordability is a key aspect here, as the net price to attend after financial aid is $10,810, which is manageable for many. About 31% of students receive Pell Grants, which can make a big difference in easing the financial burden for those who qualify.

In terms of the financial picture, students graduate with a median debt of $8,750, which is relatively low compared to many other institutions. This means that graduates are generally not overwhelmed by debt as they start their careers. Those who thrive here often appreciate a practical education that leads directly to employment opportunities, making it a fulfilling choice for anyone looking to jumpstart their career without a significant financial strain.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Hudson, North Carolina, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 42%.

Retention Rate
71%
Full-Time Faculty
37%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$6,611
Student–Faculty Ratio
14:1
Diversity Index
0.46
First-Gen Students
50%

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute is $6,526, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $10,810. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,827 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,750 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$2,526
Out-of-State
$6,526
Avg Net Price
$10,810
Median Debt
$8,750
Pell Grant Rate
31%
Federal Loan Rate
0%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$8,827
Family Income $30K–$48K
$10,162
Family Income $48K–$75K
$13,646
Family Income $110K+
$17,271

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute report median earnings of $34,515, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$30,689
8 Years
$32,111
10 Years
$34,515
Debt-to-Earnings
0.25x
Earning > $25K
42%

Earnings Trajectory

$30,689 6yr $32,111 8yr $34,515 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (62)
22%
100% (62)
22%
100% (62)
22%
100% (62)
22%

How Caldwell Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation42%Earnings 10yr$35KNet Price$11KRetention71%Median Debt$9KPell Grant Rate31%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$9K$0-30K$10K$30-48K$14K$48-75K$17K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%13.5%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%6.8%MOBILITY0.91%

College ROI Calculator

Is Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,810/year ($43,240 total). Graduates earn $34,515 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $790,658 in total earnings — a net gain of $747,418 (18.3× your investment). The median debt is $8,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 42% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$43,240
Projected 20yr Earnings
$790,658
Net Return
$747,418
ROI Multiple
18.3×
Cost Per Year
$10,810
Median Debt
$8,750
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
42%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.91%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 6.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $60,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
0.91%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
6.8%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
13.5%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$60,300

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. Its economic connectedness score is 0.58, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
0.58
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.01
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
4.0%
Support Ratio
0.99
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
$115,059
Investment Income
$8,642

Top Programs

The fields Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Hudson, North Carolina, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 42%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute is $6,526, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $10,810. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,827 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,750 in federal student loans.

Is Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute report median earnings of $34,515, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

Does Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.91%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 6.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $60,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. Its economic connectedness score is 0.58, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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