Wake Technical Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 32% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $41,769 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $8,759 B+
- 49% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 19,675
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 29.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $29.3 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $29.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $990,030.
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.
-
Every $1 invested returns $29.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.2%
- Top 84%
- Patents
- 20
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 29
- Downstream influence
Why Wake Technical Community College Matters
Wake Technical Community College is a public college in Raleigh, NC and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 19,675
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Humanities, Computer Science & IT, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Wake 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 $8,759 a year after grants and scholarships — 49% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $41,769 ten years after enrolling — 2% above the typical college, against $12,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 80% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.03 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With nearly 20,000 students, Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, NC, is a vibrant hub for those looking to jumpstart their careers or shift directions. It’s particularly appealing for individuals interested in hands-on fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Computer Science. The emphasis on practical skills means students are not just learning theory; they are preparing for real-world jobs that matter.
When it comes to life after graduation, students can expect to earn around $41,769 after ten years. This figure gives a sense of the return on investment from their education. Considering the average debt is only $12,000, many graduates find themselves in a relatively strong financial position. The affordability of Wake Tech, with a net price of $8,759 after aid, allows graduates to focus on their careers rather than being weighed down by excessive student loans.
In practical terms, Wake Tech is a great fit for students who thrive in a supportive, community-oriented environment. The combination of reasonable tuition and manageable debt makes it accessible for those from various backgrounds. Students who are proactive and engaged in their studies often find the pathways they need to succeed, leading to solid job opportunities in their chosen fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Wake 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 Wake Technical Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Raleigh, North Carolina, Wake Technical Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 32%.
- Retention Rate
- 72%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 46%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,820
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.73
- First-Gen Students
- 38%
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 Wake Technical Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wake Technical Community College is $6,862, 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 $8,759. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,682 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $2,254
- Out-of-State
- $6,862
- Avg Net Price
- $8,759
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 28%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 16%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,682
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $7,486
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $9,108
- Family Income $110K+
- $15,067
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 Wake 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 Wake Technical Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wake Technical Community College report median earnings of $41,769, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $35,300
- 8 Years
- $38,144
- 10 Years
- $41,769
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.29x
- Earning > $25K
- 52%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (268)
- 14%
- 100% (268)
- 14%
- 100% (268)
- 14%
- 100% (268)
- 14%
How Wake 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 Wake Technical Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Wake Technical Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,759/year ($35,036 total). Graduates earn $41,769 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,025,066 in total earnings — a net gain of $990,030 (29.3× your investment). The median debt is $12,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. 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)
- $35,036
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,025,066
- Net Return
- $990,030
- ROI Multiple
- 29.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $8,759
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- 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 Wake Technical Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Wake 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 0.95%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.4% 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 9.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $78,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.95%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 9.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 10.4%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $107,197
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Wake Technical Community College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 20 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.15%
- Top 84% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 20
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 29
- Downstream influence
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $935,566
- Investment Income
- $51,260
Top Programs
The fields Wake 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.
- Business & Marketing 22% $39,374 early-career
- Humanities 19%
- Computer Science & IT 16% $69,178 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 8% $36,008 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 7% $54,760 early-career
- Health Professions 6% $67,798 early-career
- Construction Trades 6% $50,176 early-career
- Education 3% $28,875 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 Wake 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 Wake Technical Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Raleigh, North Carolina, Wake Technical Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 32%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Wake Technical Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wake Technical Community College is $6,862, 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 $8,759. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,682 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
Is Wake Technical Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wake Technical Community College report median earnings of $41,769, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Wake Technical Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Wake 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 0.95%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.4% 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 9.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $78,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Wake 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 above average at Wake Technical Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.03, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Wake Technical Community College.
- East Los Angeles CollegeMonterey Park, CA · Close peer35% grad $42,006 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeMilwaukee, WI · Close peer25% grad $41,113 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- City College of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA · Close peer40% grad $45,805 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Palomar CollegeSan Marcos, CA · Close peer36% grad $42,300 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Cerritos CollegeNorwalk, CA · Close peer30% grad $41,156 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Orange Coast CollegeCosta Mesa, CA · Close peer46% grad $47,348 earnWhy: similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Wake 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 above average at Wake Technical Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.03, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note