Durham Technical Community College
#1 Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina- Graduation Rate
- 40% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $36,142 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $1,664 A+
- 90% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 3,890
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 129.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $129.8 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina.
Every $1 spent returns $129.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $857,189.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Graduation of 40% — 30% below the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $129.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Durham Technical Community College
Durham Technical 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
- 3,890
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Durham Technical 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 $1,664 a year after grants and scholarships — 90% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $36,142 ten years after enrolling — 11% below the typical college, against $14,750 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 90% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.63 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of around 3,890 students, Durham Technical Community College is a solid choice for individuals looking to jumpstart their careers or enhance their skills. It serves a diverse group of learners, particularly those interested in practical fields such as Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice, and Education. If you’re looking for a community-focused environment with a variety of vocational paths, this place might resonate with you.
When we look at outcomes, graduates from Durham Tech see a 10-year earning average of $36,142. That’s a decent stepping stone into the workforce. While the graduation rate sits at 40%, many students find their way into solid jobs that can lead to further growth. The affordability of the college is also appealing, with a net price of just $1,664 after financial aid, making it accessible for many. Additionally, about 31% of students receive Pell Grants, which can help ease financial burdens.
Now, let’s talk about the financial bottom line. With a median debt of $14,750, the debt load is manageable for many graduates, especially considering the earnings potential. Students who thrive here are often those looking for a practical, affordable education that can lead directly to employment. If you're focused on gaining skills that translate into job opportunities without breaking the bank, Durham Tech could be the right move for you.
Rankings
- #1 Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina
- #5 Best Online Nursing Programs in North Carolina
- #6 Best Online Computer Science Programs in North Carolina
- #6 Best Online Education Programs in North Carolina
- #6 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in North Carolina
- #7 Best Online Business Programs in North Carolina
- #8 Most Affordable Online Public Universities
- #9 Most Affordable Online Colleges
Can I Get In?
How selective Durham Technical 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 Durham Technical Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Durham, North Carolina, Durham Technical Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.
- Retention Rate
- 66%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 22%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,720
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 6:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.77
- First-Gen Students
- 42%
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 Durham Technical Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Durham Technical Community College is $6,594, 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 $1,664. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $525 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $14,750 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,986
- Out-of-State
- $6,594
- Avg Net Price
- $1,664
- Median Debt
- $14,750
- Pell Grant Rate
- 31%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 7%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $525
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $1,495
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $2,850
- Family Income $110K+
- $9,930
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 Durham Technical 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 Durham Technical Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Durham Technical Community College report median earnings of $36,142, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $31,129
- 8 Years
- $33,625
- 10 Years
- $36,142
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.41x
- Earning > $25K
- 41%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (34)
- 15%
- 100% (34)
- 15%
- 100% (34)
- 15%
- 100% (34)
- 15%
How Durham 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 Durham Technical Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Durham Technical Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $1,664/year ($6,656 total). Graduates earn $36,142 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $863,845 in total earnings — a net gain of $857,189 (129.8× your investment). The median debt is $14,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 40% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $6,656
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $863,845
- Net Return
- $857,189
- ROI Multiple
- 129.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $1,664
- Median Debt
- $14,750
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 40%
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 Durham Technical Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Durham Technical 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 0.73%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 16.2% 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 4.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $59,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.73%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 4.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 16.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $81,111
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Top Programs
The fields Durham Technical 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 34%
- Health Professions 23% $70,036 early-career
- Business & Marketing 8%
- Computer Science & IT 7% $59,033 early-career
- Education 7% $30,487 early-career
- Criminal Justice 3%
- Engineering 2%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 2%
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 Durham Technical 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
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Durham Technical Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Durham, North Carolina, Durham Technical Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Durham Technical Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Durham Technical Community College is $6,594, 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 $1,664. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $525 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $14,750 in federal student loans.
Is Durham Technical Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Durham Technical Community College report median earnings of $36,142, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Durham Technical Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Durham Technical 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 0.73%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 16.2% 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 4.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $59,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Durham Technical 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 Durham Technical Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Durham Technical Community College.
- Victor Valley CollegeVictorville, CA · Close peer45% grad $36,119 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Johnston Community CollegeSmithfield, NC · Close peer32% grad $37,310 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Yuba CollegeMarysville, CA · Close peer36% grad $39,552 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Rock Valley CollegeRockford, IL · Close peer38% grad $39,158 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Virginia Peninsula Community CollegeHampton, VA · Close peer34% grad $37,996 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington CollegeChicago, IL · Close peer27% grad $36,531 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Durham Technical 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 Durham Technical Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note