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CollegeRanker
Public Elizabeth City, NC · Town · Southeast · 80% data
A+ Value A+ Affordability C+ Diversity
Graduation Rate
37% D
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$33,234 D+
Below average for college graduates
Net Price
$2,253 A+
87% less than the typical college
Enrollment
2,001
Earnings -19% vs avg
Graduation -35% vs avg
Net Price +-87% vs avg
Mobility Top 97%

Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 83.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $83.1 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Online Computer Science Programs in North Carolina.

83.1× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $83.1 over 20 years. Net gain: $739,651.

What The Data Says

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

  2. Graduation of 37% — 35% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $83.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About College of the Albemarle

College of the Albemarle 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
2,001
Setting
Town
Primary Strengths
Humanities, Precision Production, Business & Marketing, Health Professions

Why students choose College of the Albemarle

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 49% overall
D+
Earnings
$33,234 median
A+
Value
14.8× net price
A+
Affordability
$2,253/yr net
D
Graduation
37% graduate
F
Social Mobility
0.5% climb Q1→Q5
C+
Diversity
0.62 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

At the College of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City, NC, students can find a welcoming environment that emphasizes practical skills and career readiness. With an enrollment of about 2,001, this school attracts individuals interested in fields like Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Mechanic & Repair Tech. The focus here is on hands-on learning, which is ideal for those who thrive in supportive, community-oriented settings.

Looking ahead to life after graduation, students can expect to earn around $33,234 within ten years. While the graduation rate is 37%, many graduates find opportunities in the workforce, particularly in the fields they studied. The affordability of the school is another plus, making it a viable option for many; the average net price after aid is just $2,253, which is quite manageable compared to many other institutions.

In terms of student experience, those who succeed here often come from diverse backgrounds and appreciate the accessible education that the college provides. The relatively low cost means that students can focus on their studies without being burdened by overwhelming debt. With 17% of students receiving Pell Grants, it’s clear that the college serves a range of financial situations, allowing many to pursue their educational goals without excessive financial strain.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective College of the Albemarle 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 College of the Albemarle? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, College of the Albemarle enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.

Retention Rate
72%
Full-Time Faculty
23%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$6,612
Student–Faculty Ratio
13:1
Diversity Index
0.62
First-Gen Students
45%

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 College of the Albemarle? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at College of the Albemarle is $7,652, 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 $2,253. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $398 after need-based grants.

In-State Tuition
$2,242
Out-of-State
$7,652
Avg Net Price
$2,253
Pell Grant Rate
17%
Federal Loan Rate
0%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$398
Family Income $30K–$48K
$2,466
Family Income $48K–$75K
$3,869

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is College of the Albemarle Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of College of the Albemarle report median earnings of $33,234, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$29,939
8 Years
$30,270
10 Years
$33,234
Loan Repayment (3yr)
83%
Earning > $25K
31%

Earnings Trajectory

$29,939 6yr $30,270 8yr $33,234 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (35)
10%
100% (35)
10%
100% (35)
10%
100% (35)
10%

How College Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation37%Earnings 10yr$33KNet Price$2KRetention72%Pell Grant Rate17%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$0K$0-30K$2K$30-48K$4K$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%21.5%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%2.1%MOBILITY0.45%

College ROI Calculator

Is College of the Albemarle Worth It?

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

Yes — for most students, College of the Albemarle delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $2,253/year ($9,012 total). Graduates earn $33,234 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $748,663 in total earnings — a net gain of $739,651 (83.1× your investment).. With a 37% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$9,012
Projected 20yr Earnings
$748,663
Net Return
$739,651
ROI Multiple
83.1×
Cost Per Year
$2,253
Graduation Rate
37%

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 College of the Albemarle Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

College of the Albemarle 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 0.45%, a more modest figure. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 21.5% 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 2.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $52,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
0.45%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
2.1%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
21.5%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$52,000

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is College of the Albemarle? 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 College of the Albemarle. Its economic connectedness score is 0.56, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.09). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
0.56
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.09
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
4.6%
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
$5,824,254
Federal Grants
$602,601
Investment Income
$1,177

Top Programs

The fields College of the Albemarle 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 College of the Albemarle? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, College of the Albemarle enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend College of the Albemarle? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at College of the Albemarle is $7,652, 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 $2,253. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $398 after need-based grants.

Is College of the Albemarle Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of College of the Albemarle report median earnings of $33,234, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

Does College of the Albemarle Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

College of the Albemarle 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 0.45%, a more modest figure. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 21.5% 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 2.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $52,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is College of the Albemarle? 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 College of the Albemarle. Its economic connectedness score is 0.56, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.09). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to College of the Albemarle.

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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