Wilkes Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. It enrolls 1,355 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.
Strong
79/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes64
Value—
Affordability81
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Wilkes 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 Wilkes 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 $-264 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$-264
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
45%
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)
$2,572
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$8,716
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,291
Books & Supplies
$702
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,216
Total Cost of Attendance
$9,844
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
$-1,444
$30,001 – $48,000
$-992
$48,001 – $75,000
$1,679
$75,001 – $110,000
$4,528
Over $110,000
$6,653
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.
$1,75010%percentile
$3,50025%percentile
$7,625Medianpercentile
$11,68975%percentile
$20,00090%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 $6,500
↓ $1,125
No Pell $4,200
↓ $3,425
Dependent students $5,250
↓ $2,375
Independent students $8,078
↑ $453
Female students $6,000
↓ $1,625
Male students $5,500
↓ $2,125
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, close to what completers borrow ($7,625) but without the degree to show for it.
Graduation Rate & Retention
34% of full-time students who enrolled at Wilkes Community College graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
34%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
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 Wilkes Community College earn a median of $34,728 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$34,728
Earning > $25K
60%
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
$25,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$31,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,300, 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.
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.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
26.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 70% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Wilkes Community College is home to 1,355 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 48% are first-generation college students, 48% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
1,355
Part-Time
48%
First-Generation
48%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 75.9%1,028
Hispanic 17.2%233
Black 2.8%38
Other 2.7%37
Asian 0.4%6
International 0.2%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Wilkes Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantWilkesboro, North Carolina
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
13%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Wilkes Community College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
41 distinct programs across
14 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 Wilkes Community College is 8:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
8:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$12,468
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$5.6M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$55,376
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
89 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
89
100%
$55,376
Pros & Cons of Wilkes Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Wilkes 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
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
Low typical debt at graduation
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Best for:
Based on the data, Wilkes 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 Wilkes Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Wilkes Community College.
Is Wilkes Community College hard to get into?
Wilkes Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Wilkes Community College?
Wilkes Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Wilkes Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Wilkes Community College is $-264 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Wilkes Community College known for?
Wilkes 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 Wilkes Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Wilkes Community College are $34,728, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Wilkes Community College accredited?
Yes. Wilkes Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Wilkes Community College?
Wilkes Community College enrolls 1,355 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Wilkes Community College?
Wilkes Community College graduates 34% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Wilkes Community College a public or private college?
Wilkes Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Wilkes Community College located?
Wilkes Community College is located in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
What programs does Wilkes Community College offer?
Wilkes Community College offers 41 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Wilkes Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Wilkes Community College is 8:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in North Carolina
Other colleges in North Carolina share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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