Central Piedmont Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Charlotte, North Carolina. It enrolls 15,067 students (a very large 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.
Strong
73/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes40
Value95
Affordability63
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Central Piedmont 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 Central Piedmont 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 $3,345 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$3,345
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
29%
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)
$2,792
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$8,936
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,239
Books & Supplies
$1,926
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,530
Total Cost of Attendance
$10,546
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
$3,258
$30,001 – $48,000
$2,068
$48,001 – $75,000
$4,725
$75,001 – $110,000
$8,010
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.
$1,21310%percentile
$2,25025%percentile
$7,925Medianpercentile
$9,00075%percentile
$16,09790%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $5,618
↓ $2,307
No Pell $3,500
↓ $4,425
Dependent students $3,719
↓ $4,206
Independent students $8,550
↑ $625
Female students $5,500
↓ $2,425
Male students $5,500
↓ $2,425
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,193, less than completers ($7,925), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
14% of full-time students who enrolled at Central Piedmont Community College graduate within six years, and 70% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
14%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
70%
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 Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $37,865 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$37,865
Earning > $25K
62%
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
$29,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$36,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,400, about 20% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Strong return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$11.3 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Central Piedmont Community College is home to 15,067 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 41% are first-generation college students, 58% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
15,067
Part-Time
58%
First-Generation
41%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 30.8%4,638
Black 30.1%4,541
Hispanic 20.8%3,134
International 7.2%1,086
Asian 4.4%666
Other 4.1%622
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Central Piedmont Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityCharlotte, North Carolina
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
24%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Central Piedmont Community College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
48 distinct programs across
18 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 Central Piedmont Community College is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$4,682
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$57M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$57,306
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
354 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
354
100%
$57,306
Pros & Cons of Central Piedmont Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Central Piedmont Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Reasonable class sizes
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Central Piedmont Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Central Piedmont Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Central Piedmont Community College.
Is Central Piedmont Community College hard to get into?
Central Piedmont Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Central Piedmont Community College?
Central Piedmont Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Central Piedmont Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Central Piedmont Community College is $3,345 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Central Piedmont Community College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $37,865 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $3,345 per year. That's roughly 11.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Central Piedmont Community College known for?
Central Piedmont Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Central Piedmont Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Central Piedmont Community College are $37,865, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Central Piedmont Community College accredited?
Yes. Central Piedmont Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Central Piedmont Community College?
Central Piedmont Community College enrolls 15,067 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Central Piedmont Community College?
Central Piedmont Community College graduates 14% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Central Piedmont Community College a public or private college?
Central Piedmont Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Central Piedmont Community College located?
Central Piedmont Community College is located in Charlotte, North Carolina.
What programs does Central Piedmont Community College offer?
Central Piedmont Community College offers 48 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Central Piedmont Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Central Piedmont Community College is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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