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Central Carolina Community College

Public Sanford, NC · Town · Southeast · 73% data
A Affordability A- Value B- Diversity
Graduation Rate
42% D+
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$33,525 D+
Below average for college graduates
Net Price
$5,446 A
68% less than the typical college
Enrollment
3,237
Earnings -18% vs avg
Graduation -26% vs avg
Net Price +-68% vs avg
Mobility Top 69%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 35.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $35.3 over 20 years.

35.3× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $35.3 over 20 years. Net gain: $747,359.

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 $35.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Central Carolina Community College

Central Carolina 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
3,237
Setting
Town
Primary Strengths
Humanities, Health Professions, Culinary & Personal Services, Precision Production

Why students choose Central Carolina Community College

Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Strength in Humanities
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C+
Top 45% overall
D+
Earnings
$33,525 median
A-
Value
6.2× net price
A
Affordability
$5,446/yr net
D+
Graduation
42% graduate
D+
Social Mobility
1.1% climb Q1→Q5
B-
Diversity
0.66 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of about 3,237 students, Central Carolina Community College is a solid choice for those looking to dive into practical fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Culinary Services. The college's focus on hands-on learning prepares students for immediate entry into the workforce, making it a great fit for individuals who prefer a more applied approach to education.

After graduation, students see a median earning of $33,525 within ten years. While that may not be the highest figure out there, it reflects a steady return on investment for many graduates. The affordability of attending Central Carolina is significant, especially when considering the net price of $5,446 after aid. This makes it accessible for those from various economic backgrounds, particularly with 26% of students receiving Pell Grants.

When it comes to the financial aspects, students often find themselves in a manageable situation. Although we don’t have specific figures for median debt, the cost of attendance is relatively low, which can ease the burden for graduates. Those who thrive here tend to be individuals who value a close-knit community and practical learning experiences, ready to take on careers that are both fulfilling and financially viable.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Central Carolina 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 Central Carolina Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Sanford, North Carolina, Central Carolina Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 42%.

Retention Rate
73%
Full-Time Faculty
27%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$6,427
Student–Faculty Ratio
12:1
Diversity Index
0.66
First-Gen Students
46%

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 Central Carolina Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Central Carolina Community College is $8,855, 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 $5,446. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,326 after need-based grants.

In-State Tuition
$2,711
Out-of-State
$8,855
Avg Net Price
$5,446
Pell Grant Rate
26%
Federal Loan Rate
0%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$4,326
Family Income $30K–$48K
$4,660
Family Income $48K–$75K
$6,961
Family Income $110K+
$12,542

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 Central Carolina Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Central Carolina Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Central Carolina Community College report median earnings of $33,525, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$29,774
8 Years
$31,317
10 Years
$33,525
Earning > $25K
40%

Earnings Trajectory

$29,774 6yr $31,317 8yr $33,525 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (132)
23%
100% (132)
23%
100% (132)
23%
100% (132)
23%

How Central Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation42%Earnings 10yr$34KNet Price$5KRetention73%Pell Grant Rate26%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$4K$0-30K$5K$30-48K$7K$48-75K$13K$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%18.1%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%6.2%MOBILITY1.11%

College ROI Calculator

Is Central Carolina Community College Worth It?

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

Yes — for most students, Central Carolina Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $5,446/year ($21,784 total). Graduates earn $33,525 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $769,143 in total earnings — a net gain of $747,359 (35.3× your investment).. 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)
$21,784
Projected 20yr Earnings
$769,143
Net Return
$747,359
ROI Multiple
35.3×
Cost Per Year
$5,446
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 Central Carolina Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Central Carolina 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 1.11%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 18.1% 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 6.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $57,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
1.11%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
6.2%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
18.1%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$77,443
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Central Carolina 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 Central Carolina Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.55, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.09). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
0.55
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.09
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
4.3%
Support Ratio
0.98
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
$5,965,608
Investment Income
$3,629

Top Programs

The fields Central Carolina 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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Central Carolina Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Sanford, North Carolina, Central Carolina Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 42%.

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

Published tuition at Central Carolina Community College is $8,855, 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 $5,446. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,326 after need-based grants.

Is Central Carolina Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Central Carolina Community College report median earnings of $33,525, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

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

Central Carolina 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 1.11%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 18.1% 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 6.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $57,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Central Carolina 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 Central Carolina Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.55, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.09). 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.

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