Gaston College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Dallas, North Carolina. It enrolls 3,518 students (a mid-sized 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
68/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes47
Value71
Affordability49
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Gaston 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 Gaston 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 $6,592 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$6,592
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
26%
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)
$3,186
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$9,330
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,018
Books & Supplies
$1,470
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,250
Total Cost of Attendance
$16,866
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
$5,784
$30,001 – $48,000
$5,579
$48,001 – $75,000
$8,432
$75,001 – $110,000
$10,952
Over $110,000
$13,399
What this means:
26% 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 Gaston College graduate within six years, and 58% 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
58%
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 Gaston College earn a median of $35,386 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$35,386
Earning > $25K
59%
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
$26,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$35,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,000, about 25% 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 ~$5.4 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Gaston College is home to 3,518 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 48% are first-generation college students, 61% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
3,518
Part-Time
61%
First-Generation
48%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 51.1%1,796
Black 19.5%687
Hispanic 12.1%424
Other 3.6%128
Asian 1.0%35
International 0.9%33
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Gaston College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize SuburbDallas, North Carolina
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
23%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Gaston College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
44 distinct programs across
17 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 Gaston College is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,704
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$6.0M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$55,787
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
142 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
142
100%
$55,787
Pros & Cons of Gaston College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Gaston 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
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, Gaston 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 Gaston College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Gaston College.
Is Gaston College hard to get into?
Gaston College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Gaston College?
Gaston College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Gaston College cost?
The average net price after aid at Gaston College is $6,592 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Gaston College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $35,386 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $6,592 per year. That's roughly 5.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Gaston College known for?
Gaston College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Practical Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Gaston College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Gaston College are $35,386, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Gaston College accredited?
Yes. Gaston College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Gaston College?
Gaston College enrolls 3,518 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Gaston College?
Gaston College graduates 20% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Gaston College a public or private college?
Gaston College is a Public institution.
Where is Gaston College located?
Gaston College is located in Dallas, North Carolina.
What programs does Gaston College offer?
Gaston College offers 44 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Practical Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Gaston College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Gaston College is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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