Carteret Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Morehead City, North Carolina. It enrolls 1,172 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
66/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes56
Value43
Affordability51
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Carteret Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Carteret Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $10,764 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$10,764
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
37%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
0%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$2,310
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$8,222
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,808
Books & Supplies
$1,400
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$12,952
Total Cost of Attendance
$19,621
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$10,411
$30,001 – $48,000
$9,212
$48,001 – $75,000
$10,321
$75,001 – $110,000
$15,701
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,75025%percentile
$6,00075%percentile
What this means:
37% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.
Graduation Rate & Retention
20% of full-time students who enrolled at Carteret Community College graduate within six years, and 69% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
20%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
69%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Carteret Community College earn a median of $33,357 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$33,357
Earning > $25K
54%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$25,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$37,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,000, about 32% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Stable ↑
1.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 51% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Carteret Community College is home to 1,172 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 48% are first-generation college students, 47% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
1,172
Part-Time
47%
First-Generation
48%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 74.3%871
Hispanic 10.5%123
Black 6.8%80
Other 4.6%54
Asian 1.3%15
International 0.3%4
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Carteret Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantMorehead City, North Carolina
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
28%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Carteret Community College offers
a varied set of programs:
26 distinct programs across
13 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Carteret Community College is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,946
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$3.1M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$52,634
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
64 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
No Rank
64
100%
$52,634
Pros & Cons of Carteret Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Carteret Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Best for:
Based on the data, Carteret Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Carteret Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Carteret Community College.
Is Carteret Community College hard to get into?
Carteret Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Carteret Community College?
Carteret Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Carteret Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Carteret Community College is $10,764 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Carteret Community College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $33,357 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $10,764 per year. That's roughly 3.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Carteret Community College known for?
Carteret Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Allied Health Diagnostic, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Carteret Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Carteret Community College are $33,357, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Carteret Community College accredited?
Yes. Carteret Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Carteret Community College?
Carteret Community College enrolls 1,172 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Carteret Community College?
Carteret Community College graduates 20% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Carteret Community College a public or private college?
Carteret Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Carteret Community College located?
Carteret Community College is located in Morehead City, North Carolina.
What programs does Carteret Community College offer?
Carteret Community College offers 26 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Allied Health Diagnostic, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Carteret Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Carteret Community College is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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