Cleveland Community College
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 193.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $193.3 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $193.3 over 20 years. Net gain: $765,530.
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What The Data Says
A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
Graduation of 20% — 64% below the national average.
Every $1 invested returns $193.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Cleveland Community College
Cleveland 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
- 1,097
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Criminal Justice, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Cleveland 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 $995 a year after grants and scholarships — 94% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $33,755 ten years after enrolling — 17% below the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 51% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.47 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Cleveland Community College serves around 1,100 students, making it a tight-knit environment for those looking to pursue practical and career-oriented education. The college shines in areas like Humanities, Health Professions, Criminal Justice, Business & Marketing, and Culinary & Personal Services. This variety of programs can cater to many interests, whether you're drawn to helping others in healthcare or exploring the creative aspects of culinary arts.
Graduates from Cleveland Community College can expect an average earning of about $33,755 a decade after completing their studies. While the graduation rate sits at 20%, the focus here is on equipping students with skills that can lead to stable employment. The affordability factor is notable too, with a net price of just $995 after financial aid, making it a viable option for many students, especially those relying on Pell Grants, which are awarded to 52% of attendees.
When it comes to the practical aspects, Cleveland Community College stands out for its low cost and supportive community. Students who thrive here often appreciate a hands-on learning approach and a focus on specific career paths. With no reported median debt, the financial landscape seems manageable for graduates, allowing them to enter the job market with fewer worries about student loans. This environment is ideal for those ready to jump into their careers without the burden of heavy debt.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Cleveland 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 Cleveland Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Cleveland Community College, located in Shelby, North Carolina, enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 20%.
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 Cleveland Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Cleveland Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $8,746 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $995 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $498 after need-based grants.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Cleveland Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Cleveland Community College report median earnings of $33,755; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Cleveland 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 Cleveland Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Cleveland Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $995/year ($3,980 total). Graduates earn $33,755 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $769,510 in total earnings — a net gain of $765,530 (193.3× your investment).. With a 20% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
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 Cleveland Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Cleveland 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 1.45%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here: roughly 20.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 7.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $49,600, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Cleveland 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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Cleveland Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Cleveland Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Cleveland Community College, located in Shelby, North Carolina, enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 20%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Cleveland Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Cleveland Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $8,746 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $995 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $498 after need-based grants.
Is Cleveland Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Cleveland Community College report median earnings of $33,755; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Does Cleveland Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Cleveland 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 1.45%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here: roughly 20.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 7.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $49,600, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Cleveland 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 Cleveland Community College, with an economic connectedness score of 0.47 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Cleveland Community College.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Cleveland 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 Cleveland Community College, with an economic connectedness score of 0.47 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note