Johnston Community College
#9 Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina- Graduation Rate
- 32% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $37,310 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $1,776 A+
- 90% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 3,453
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 118.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $118.2 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina.
Every $1 spent returns $118.2 over 20 years. Net gain: $832,807.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 32% — 44% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $118.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Johnston Community College
Johnston 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
- 3,453
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT, Mechanic & Repair Tech
Why students choose Johnston 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 $1,776 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 $37,310 ten years after enrolling — 9% below the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 77% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.79 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Johnston Community College serves about 3,453 students looking for practical and focused programs. It’s a good fit for those interested in fields like Humanities, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT, Mechanic & Repair Tech, and Precision Production. The hands-on approach and smaller size may appeal to individuals who thrive in a more personalized learning environment and want to build skills for immediate employment.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $37,310 after ten years in the workforce. This figure gives a glimpse into the potential return on investment for those pursuing careers in the college's top programs. While we don’t have data on mobility rates or debt load, the affordability of Johnston Community College is notable, especially with a net price of just $1,776 after aid, which suggests that many can minimize their expenses while gaining valuable skills.
Looking at the practical aspects, students here often emerge with manageable financial burdens due to the low net price. While we don’t have specific debt figures, the college’s environment tends to attract individuals who are ready to dive into their studies and work towards stable careers. This supportive atmosphere can help students from various backgrounds find their niche and succeed, especially in technical and service-oriented fields.
Rankings
- #9 Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina
- #19 Best Online Computer Science Programs in North Carolina
- #21 Best Online Nursing Programs in North Carolina
- #22 Best Online Education Programs in North Carolina
- #22 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in North Carolina
- #23 Best Online Business Programs in North Carolina
- #28 Best Computer Science Colleges in North Carolina
- #28 Best Data Science Colleges in North Carolina
Can I Get In?
How selective Johnston 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 Johnston Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Johnston Community College, located in Smithfield, North Carolina, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 32%.
- Retention Rate
- 67%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 24%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,126
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.65
- First-Gen Students
- 47%
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 Johnston Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Johnston Community College is $8,900, 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 $1,776. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,743 after need-based grants.
- In-State Tuition
- $2,756
- Out-of-State
- $8,900
- Avg Net Price
- $1,776
- Pell Grant Rate
- 25%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 0%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $1,743
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $986
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $2,495
- Family Income $110K+
- $5,814
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 Johnston 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 Johnston Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Johnston Community College report median earnings of $37,310, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,629
- 8 Years
- $34,730
- 10 Years
- $37,310
- Earning > $25K
- 46%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (84)
- 24%
- 100% (84)
- 24%
- 100% (84)
- 24%
- 100% (84)
- 24%
How Johnston 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 Johnston Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Johnston Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $1,776/year ($7,104 total). Graduates earn $37,310 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $839,911 in total earnings — a net gain of $832,807 (118.2× your investment).. With a 32% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $7,104
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $839,911
- Net Return
- $832,807
- ROI Multiple
- 118.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $1,776
- Graduation Rate
- 32%
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 Johnston Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Johnston 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 0.99%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 17.3% 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 5.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $60,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.99%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 5.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 17.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $81,791
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $7,608,694
- Investment Income
- $15,979
Top Programs
The fields Johnston 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 27%
- Health Professions 17% $66,496 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 11%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 8%
- Precision Production 6%
- Business & Marketing 6% $35,271 early-career
- Transportation 5% $44,210 early-career
- Criminal Justice 3% $34,755 early-career
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 Johnston 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 Johnston Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Johnston Community College, located in Smithfield, North Carolina, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 32%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Johnston Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Johnston Community College is $8,900, 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 $1,776. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,743 after need-based grants.
Is Johnston Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Johnston Community College report median earnings of $37,310, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Johnston Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Johnston 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 0.99%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 17.3% 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 5.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $60,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Johnston 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 Johnston Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.79, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), 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 Johnston Community College.
- Durham Technical Community CollegeDurham, NC · Close peer40% grad $36,142 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Victor Valley CollegeVictorville, CA · Close peer45% grad $36,119 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Roane State Community CollegeHarriman, TN · Close peer34% grad $39,407 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Walters State Community CollegeMorristown, TN · Close peer35% grad $37,085 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Yuba CollegeMarysville, CA · Close peer36% grad $39,552 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Leeward Community CollegePearl City, HI · Close peer33% grad $39,899 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Johnston 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 Johnston Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.79, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), 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