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Carteret Community College

Public Morehead City, NC · Town · Southeast · 80% data
B Affordability C+ Value D+ Graduation
Graduation Rate
45% D+
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$33,357 D+
Below average for college graduates
Net Price
$10,764 B
37% less than the typical college
Enrollment
1,172
Earnings -18% vs avg
Graduation -21% vs avg
Net Price +-37% vs avg
Mobility Top 93%

Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 16.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.8 over 20 years.

16.8× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $16.8 over 20 years. Net gain: $678,886.

What The Data Says

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

  2. Graduation of 45% — 21% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $16.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Carteret Community College

Carteret 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 College
Carnegie Class
Associate's College
Enrollment
1,172
Setting
Town
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Humanities, Culinary & Personal Services, Business & Marketing

Why students choose Carteret Community College

Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C-
Top 61% overall
D+
Earnings
$33,357 median
C+
Value
3.1× net price
B
Affordability
$10,764/yr net
D+
Graduation
45% graduate
F
Social Mobility
0.6% climb Q1→Q5
D+
Diversity
0.43 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

Carteret Community College, located in Morehead City, North Carolina, is a great fit for students seeking practical skills and a community-focused education. With an enrollment of around 1,172, it caters to those interested in fields like Health Professions, Culinary and Personal Services, Business and Marketing, and Mechanic and Repair Technology. The college's smaller size allows for a more personalized experience, which can be a big plus for students who thrive in a close-knit environment.

Looking at life after graduation, graduates from Carteret Community College see an average earning of $33,357 after ten years. This figure highlights the potential for upward mobility for students entering fields that are in demand. The affordability of the college also plays a key role; with a net price of $10,764 after aid, it becomes more accessible for a wider range of students. About 37% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating that a significant number are seeking financial support to help them complete their education.

When considering the practicalities, students here often find that they can thrive without falling into heavy debt; while specific median debt figures aren't available, the reasonable net price suggests that many can graduate with manageable financial burdens. This environment is particularly supportive for those ready to engage actively with their studies and leverage the college's connections to local industries. The focus on practical skills paired with a supportive community can lead to a fulfilling educational experience and a promising career path.

Can I Get In?

How selective Carteret Community College 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 Carteret Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Carteret Community College, located in Morehead City, North Carolina, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 45%.

Retention Rate
62%
Full-Time Faculty
20%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$6,089
Student–Faculty Ratio
10:1
Diversity Index
0.43
First-Gen Students
48%

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 Carteret Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Carteret Community College is $8,222, 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 $10,764. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,411 after need-based grants.

In-State Tuition
$2,310
Out-of-State
$8,222
Avg Net Price
$10,764
Pell Grant Rate
37%
Federal Loan Rate
0%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$10,411
Family Income $30K–$48K
$9,212
Family Income $48K–$75K
$10,321

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Carteret Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Carteret Community College report median earnings of $33,357, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$31,047
8 Years
$29,994
10 Years
$33,357
Earning > $25K
42%

Earnings Trajectory

$31,047 6yr $29,994 8yr $33,357 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (17)
28%
100% (17)
28%
100% (17)
28%
100% (17)
28%

How Carteret Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation45%Earnings 10yr$33KNet Price$11KRetention62%Pell Grant Rate37%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$10K$0-30K$9K$30-48K$10K$48-75K

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%22.3%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%2.9%MOBILITY0.63%

College ROI Calculator

Is Carteret Community College Worth It?

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

Yes — for most students, Carteret Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,764/year ($43,056 total). Graduates earn $33,357 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $721,942 in total earnings — a net gain of $678,886 (16.8× your investment).. With a 45% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$43,056
Projected 20yr Earnings
$721,942
Net Return
$678,886
ROI Multiple
16.8×
Cost Per Year
$10,764
Graduation Rate
45%

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 Carteret Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Carteret Community College 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 0.63%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 22.3% 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 2.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $50,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
0.63%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
2.9%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
22.3%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$50,300

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Carteret 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 Carteret Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.62, 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.

Economic Connectedness
0.62
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.09
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
7.1%
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
$2,374,808
Investment Income
$1,430

Top Programs

The fields Carteret Community College 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 Carteret Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Carteret Community College, located in Morehead City, North Carolina, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 45%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Carteret Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Carteret Community College is $8,222, 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 $10,764. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,411 after need-based grants.

Is Carteret Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Carteret Community College report median earnings of $33,357, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

Does Carteret Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Carteret Community College 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 0.63%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 22.3% 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 2.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $50,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Carteret 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 Carteret Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.62, 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

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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.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys