Cape Fear Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 34% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $38,654 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $9,610 B
- 44% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 9,764
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 25.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $25.2 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $25.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $928,488.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 34% — 41% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $25.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Cape Fear Community College
Cape Fear Community College 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
- 9,764
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Culinary & Personal Services, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Cape Fear Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $9,610 a year after grants and scholarships — 44% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $38,654 ten years after enrolling — 5% below the typical college, against $9,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 65% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.64 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With nearly 10,000 students, Cape Fear Community College is a solid choice for those looking to jumpstart their careers without committing to a four-year university right away. It's particularly well-suited for individuals interested in practical fields like Health Professions, Construction Trades, and Culinary Arts. These programs can lead to hands-on careers that are in demand in the Wilmington area and beyond.
When it comes to life after graduation, the numbers tell a hopeful story. Graduates earn an average of $38,654 within ten years of completing their studies. This is a respectable figure, especially considering the affordability of the education here. The cost after aid is about $9,610, making it accessible for a wide range of students. While the graduation rate is 34%, many who do complete their programs find meaningful employment in their fields.
In terms of student experience, a manageable debt load of $9,500 helps keep financial stress in check. The relatively low net price means that a significant portion of students can focus on their studies rather than worrying about financial burdens. Those who thrive here often appreciate the hands-on learning environment and the chance to enter the workforce quickly, making this community college a practical stepping stone for many.
Rankings
- #25 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in North Carolina
- #33 Best Nursing Colleges in North Carolina
- #35 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in North Carolina
- #37 Best Online Computer Science Programs in North Carolina
- #38 Best Online Nursing Programs in North Carolina
- #38 Best Online Education Programs in North Carolina
- #40 Best Online Business Programs in North Carolina
- #41 Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina
Can I Get In?
How selective Cape Fear Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Cape Fear Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Cape Fear Community College, located in Wilmington, North Carolina, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 34%.
- Retention Rate
- 67%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 33%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,870
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 24:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.55
- First-Gen Students
- 38%
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 Cape Fear Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Cape Fear Community College is $8,892, 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 $9,610. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,221 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $2,748
- Out-of-State
- $8,892
- Avg Net Price
- $9,610
- Median Debt
- $9,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 18%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 4%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,221
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,035
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,335
- Family Income $110K+
- $14,507
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Cape Fear Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Cape Fear Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Cape Fear Community College report median earnings of $38,654, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $32,234
- 8 Years
- $34,391
- 10 Years
- $38,654
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.25x
- Earning > $25K
- 45%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (96)
- 11%
- 100% (96)
- 11%
- 100% (96)
- 11%
- 100% (96)
- 11%
How Cape Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Cape Fear Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Cape Fear Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,610/year ($38,440 total). Graduates earn $38,654 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $966,928 in total earnings — a net gain of $928,488 (25.2× your investment). The median debt is $9,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 34% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $38,440
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $966,928
- Net Return
- $928,488
- ROI Multiple
- 25.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $9,610
- Median Debt
- $9,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 34%
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 Cape Fear Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Cape Fear Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.20%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 14.7% 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 8.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $70,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.20%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 8.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 14.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $96,192
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $29,323
Top Programs
The fields Cape Fear Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 41%
- Health Professions 15% $63,895 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 9% $21,491 early-career
- Business & Marketing 6% $41,235 early-career
- Construction Trades 5%
- Criminal Justice 5% $47,109 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 5%
- Visual & Performing Arts 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Cape Fear Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CAerospace Engineer$130,720 · 6% growthResilient 72
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Cape Fear Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Cape Fear Community College, located in Wilmington, North Carolina, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 34%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Cape Fear Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Cape Fear Community College is $8,892, 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 $9,610. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,221 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,500 in federal student loans.
Is Cape Fear Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Cape Fear Community College report median earnings of $38,654, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Cape Fear Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Cape Fear Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.20%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 14.7% 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 8.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $70,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Cape Fear Community College? 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 Cape Fear Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.64, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.09). Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Cape Fear Community College.
- San Diego City CollegeSan Diego, CA · Close peer28% grad $38,503 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Metropolitan Community College-Kansas CityKansas City, MO · Close peer31% grad $40,796 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Los Angeles City CollegeLos Angeles, CA · Close peer27% grad $36,190 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Community College of Allegheny CountyPittsburgh, PA · Close peer24% grad $39,449 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Tidewater Community CollegeNorfolk, VA · Close peer31% grad $38,349 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Kirkwood Community CollegeCedar Rapids, IA · Close peer42% grad $41,016 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Cape Fear Community College? 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 Cape Fear Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.64, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.09). Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note