Wilkes Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 54% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $34,728 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $-264 A+
- 102% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,355
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges.
About Wilkes Community College
Wilkes 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 College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,355
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Humanities, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Health Professions
Why students choose Wilkes 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 $-264 a year after grants and scholarships — 102% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $34,728 ten years after enrolling — 15% below the typical college, against $7,625 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 62% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.61 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With around 1,355 students, Wilkes Community College is a great fit for those looking for a close-knit learning environment. It stands out for its practical programs in Business & Marketing, Humanities, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Health Professions, and Criminal Justice, allowing students to gain hands-on skills that align with their career goals. If you’re someone who values direct pathways into the workforce, this college might just be what you're looking for.
When we look at life after graduation, students from Wilkes Community College can expect to earn around $34,728 in their first ten years. This is a solid starting point for those entering the workforce directly after their studies. It’s also noteworthy that about 45% of students receive Pell Grants, which can help ease the financial burden of college, making it more accessible for those who qualify.
On the practical side, the net price after aid is actually a positive number at -$264, suggesting that students often find themselves in a better financial situation than expected. The median debt stands at $7,625, which is manageable for many graduates. Students who thrive here typically embrace a hands-on approach to learning and are eager to step into fields like healthcare, business, or criminal justice after completing their degrees.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Wilkes 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 Wilkes Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Wilkes Community College, located in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 54%.
- Retention Rate
- 69%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 21%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,310
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 7:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.39
- First-Gen Students
- 48%
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 Wilkes Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wilkes Community College is $8,716, 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 $-264. For the lowest-income families, those earning under $30,000, need-based grants can fully cover tuition, leaving little or nothing to pay out of pocket. The median graduate leaves with about $7,625 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $2,572
- Out-of-State
- $8,716
- Avg Net Price
- $-264
- Median Debt
- $7,625
- Pell Grant Rate
- 45%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 0%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $-1,444
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $-992
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $1,679
- Family Income $110K+
- $6,653
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Wilkes Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wilkes Community College report median earnings of $34,728, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $32,842
- 8 Years
- $33,645
- 10 Years
- $34,728
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.22x
- Earning > $25K
- 40%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (129)
- 32%
- 100% (129)
- 32%
- 100% (129)
- 32%
- 100% (129)
- 32%
How Wilkes 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 Wilkes Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Wilkes Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $-264/year ($-1,056 total). Graduates earn $34,728 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $737,762 in total earnings — a net gain of $738,818 (0.0× your investment). The median debt is $7,625, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 54% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a below average ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $-1,056
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $737,762
- Net Return
- $738,818
- ROI Multiple
- 0.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $-264
- Median Debt
- $7,625
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 54%
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 Wilkes Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Wilkes 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 1.24%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.6% 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 9.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $53,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.24%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 9.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 13.6%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $53,200
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $5,288,946
- Federal Grants
- $123,239
- Investment Income
- $-740,002
Top Programs
The fields Wilkes 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.
- Business & Marketing 18%
- Humanities 14%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 8%
- Health Professions 8%
- Criminal Justice 8%
- Precision Production 8%
- Computer Science & IT 5%
- Culinary & Personal Services 5%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Wilkes 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 Wilkes Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Wilkes Community College, located in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 54%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Wilkes Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wilkes Community College is $8,716, 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 $-264. For the lowest-income families, those earning under $30,000, need-based grants can fully cover tuition, leaving little or nothing to pay out of pocket. The median graduate leaves with about $7,625 in federal student loans.
Is Wilkes Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wilkes Community College report median earnings of $34,728, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Wilkes Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Wilkes 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 1.24%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.6% 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 9.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $53,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Wilkes 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 Wilkes Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.61, 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 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Wilkes Community College.
- Edgecombe Community CollegeTarboro, NC · Close peer45% grad $33,267 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- George Stone Technical CollegePensacola, FL · Close peer43% grad $35,234 earnWhy: similar earnings
- Southwestern Community CollegeSylva, NC · Close peer53% grad $34,145 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Dixie Technical CollegeSaint George, UT · Close peer80% grad $31,051 earnWhy: similar size
- Stanly Community CollegeAlbemarle, NC · Close peer54% grad $36,686 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Ashland Community and Technical CollegeAshland, KY · Strong match55% grad $34,504 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Wilkes 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 Wilkes Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.61, 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 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note