Top Notch Vocational & Trade Schools in North Carolina 2017
The vocational and trade school opportunities available to those in North Carolina can be found in the following rankings. Many students choose to enroll in a community college, career college or vocational institution in order to study in an allied health field or construction trade – two fast-growing industries in North Carolina. To help students make the best choice, our rankings include factors that matter most, such as tuition rate, length of programs and financial aid availability.
| Rank | School Name | Score | Tuition & Fees | Financial Aid % | Total Programs | Student-Teacher Ratio | Grad Rate | Description | Additional Benefits: | Placement Services | Counseling Services | Credit for Experience | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College |
97.67 | $$$$$ | 9% | 44 | 18:1 | 18% | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College has six campuses located North of Fletcher to Marshall. Two-year degree programs are taught in allied health, emergency services and applied technology. Classroom, theory and hands-on or laboratory instruction are all part of the school's vocational training programs. Fields that graduates could work in are criminal justice, nursing, construction, welding and civil engineering. Registration for degree programs must be completed by deadline. An academic learning center, writing center, tutoring, academic advising and computer labs are all resources students can take advantage of. Moodle, WebAdvisor, student email and InfoBase are online services that are also open to students. |
Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More |
| 2 | McDowell Technical Community College |
96.00 | $$$$$ | 9% | 18 | 8:1 | 27% | Located in Marion, North Carolina, McDowell Technical Community College offers Associate of Applied Science degrees in automotive systems technology, nursing, cosmetology, industrial systems, electrical systems, web technology and general occupational technology vocational specialties. Its small business center provides counseling, trade journals, magazines and pamphlets to area entrepreneurs, including graduates of its vocational degree programs who go on to start a business. Applications are accepted in person at the Student Services Office. Placement tests are also taken on campus. New students are encouraged to meet with an adviser to plan their course schedule. |
Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More |
| 3 | Pitt Community College |
95.84 | $$$$$ | 11% | 31 | 17:1 | 13% | Pitt Community College offers associate of applied science degrees in various vocational fields, such as air conditioning, heating and refrigeration technology, industrial management technology, industrial systems technology, mechanical engineering, welding, office administration and nursing. The school also offers select continuing education courses to help prepare students for licensing and/or certification requirements. Work based learning is a way that students can use their work experience to earn academic credits. For 160 hours of work experience, qualifying students can earn one semester hour credit. Maximum credits that students can earn each semester are two. Regardless of the program that they major in, all freshmen are required to attend new student orientation. |
Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More |
| 4 | Fayetteville Technical Community College |
95.51 | $$$$$ | 1% | 49 | 20:1 | 7% | Through its two-year vocational programs, Fayetteville Technical Community College prepares students to work in fields like the culinary arts, global logistics and distribution, healthcare management, HVAC, automotive, hospitality and business. Classes are taught at the Spring Lake Campus and at the Fort Bragg Center. High School Connections is part of the state's Career and College Promise program. Through this program, high school students take college courses alongside their required secondary curriculum. The Student Learning Center, Children's Center for students who are parents, student advising and university outreach are services that students can take advantage of. Graduates can search for relevant jobs using the school's online job board. |
Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More |
| 5 | Guilford Technical Community College |
95.24 | $$$$$ | 5% | 36 | 20:1 | 10% | Early and traditional registration is offered at Guilford Technical Community College. Created in 1958, the college accepts applications via an open admissions policy at each of its four campuses. Construction management technology, culinary arts, entertainment technology, electronics engineering and nursing are just a few examples of the associate degree programs offered at this community college. The college has a co-enrollment engineering program agreement with North Carolina AT&T State University. Through the agreement, all credits in Guilford Technical Community College's engineering program transfer into North Carolina AT&T State University's four-year degree program. |
Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More |
| 6 | Cape Fear Community College |
94.85 | $$$$$ | 9% | 40 | 13:1 | 14% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More | |
| 7 | Beaufort County Community College |
94.74 | $$$$$ | 5% | 23 | 13:1 | 18% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More | |
| 8 | Rowan-Cabarrus Community College |
94.26 | $$$$$ | 2% | 21 | 11:1 | 35% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More | |
| 9 | Piedmont Community College |
94.12 | $$$$$ | 13% | 16 | 10:1 | 29% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More | |
| 10 | Sandhills Community College |
94.10 | $$$$$ | 18% | 20 | 16:1 | 11% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More | |
| 11 | Rockingham Community College |
94.04 | $$$$$ | 21% | 11 | 11:1 | 15% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More | |
| 12 | Randolph Community College |
93.97 | $$$$$ | 11% | 15 | 13:1 | 15% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More | |
| 13 | Wake Technical Community College |
93.67 | $$$$$ | 2% | 40 | 18:1 | 16% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More | |
| 14 | Pamlico Community College |
93.37 | $$$$$ | 11% | 8 | 9:1 | 67% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More | |
| 15 | Gaston College |
93.37 | $$$$$ | 1% | 25 | 20:1 | 24% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More | |
| 16 | Southeastern Community College |
93.34 | $$$$$ | 28% | 17 | 14:1 | 10% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More | |
| 17 | Johnston Community College |
93.34 | $$$$$ | 4% | 19 | 16:1 | 29% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More | |
| 18 | James Sprunt Community College |
92.80 | $$$$$ | 3% | 10 | 14:1 | 14% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More | |
| 19 | Stanly Community College |
92.75 | $$$$$ | 15% | 11 | 15:1 | 25% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More | |
| 20 | Southwestern Community College |
92.65 | $$$$$ | 15% | 26 | 15:1 | 32% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 21 | Mayland Community College |
92.59 | $$$$$ | 5% | 15 | 14:1 | 34% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More | |
| 22 | Blue Ridge Community College |
92.42 | $$$$$ | 10% | 36 | 12:1 | 17% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 23 | Coastal Carolina Community College |
92.01 | $$$$$ | 3% | 21 | 14:1 | 25% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 24 | Forsyth Technical Community College |
91.91 | $$$$$ | N/A | 35 | 13:1 | 14% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 25 | Durham Technical Community College |
91.91 | $$$$$ | 3% | 23 | 18:1 | 12% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 26 | Carolinas College of Health Sciences |
91.67 | $$$$$ | N/A | 4 | 7:1 | 50% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More | |
| 27 | Haywood Community College |
91.64 | $$$$$ | 9% | 23 | 6:1 | 20% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 28 | South Piedmont Community College |
91.56 | $$$$$ | 7% | 20 | 15:1 | 35% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 29 | Davidson County Community College |
91.35 | $$$$$ | 7% | 33 | 20:1 | 26% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 30 | Vance-Granville Community College |
91.01 | $$$$$ | 18% | 19 | 16:1 | 28% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 31 | Surry Community College |
90.80 | $$$$$ | 11% | 19 | 17:1 | 24% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 32 | Alamance Community College |
90.80 | $$$$$ | 16% | 20 | 15:1 | 11% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 33 | Wilkes Community College |
90.77 | $$$$$ | 17% | 21 | 11:1 | 32% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 34 | Central Piedmont Community College |
90.76 | $$$$$ | 3% | 44 | 19:1 | 12% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 35 | Wayne Community College |
90.56 | $$$$$ | 5% | 16 | 11:1 | 18% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 36 | Lenoir Community College |
90.27 | $$$$$ | 13% | 19 | 10:1 | 12% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 37 | Edgecombe Community College |
90.15 | $$$$$ | 8% | 18 | 26:1 | 12% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 38 | Carteret Community College |
90.07 | $$$$$ | 8% | 19 | 8:1 | 16% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 39 | College of the Albemarle |
89.89 | $$$$$ | 7% | 12 | 13:1 | 19% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 40 | Catawba Valley Community College |
89.85 | $$$$$ | 5% | 16 | 11:1 | 21% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 41 | Bladen Community College |
89.56 | $$$$$ | 2% | 12 | 12:1 | 12% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 42 | Richmond Community College |
89.34 | $$$$$ | 6% | 13 | 15:1 | 16% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 43 | Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute |
89.16 | $$$$$ | 1% | 17 | 18:1 | 20% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 44 | Halifax Community College |
89.15 | $$$$$ | 5% | 13 | 11:1 | 26% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 45 | Nash Community College |
89.08 | $$$$$ | 16% | 22 | 25:1 | 7% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 46 | Tri-County Community College |
88.47 | $$$$$ | N/A | 14 | 16:1 | 28% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 47 | Mitchell Community College |
88.33 | $$$$$ | 9% | 14 | 21:1 | 19% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 48 | Brunswick Community College |
88.30 | $$$$$ | 9% | 13 | 21:1 | 24% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More | |
| 49 | Robeson Community College |
88.14 | $$$$$ | 4% | 8 | 17:1 | 22% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More |
| Rank | School Name | Score | Tuition & Fees | Financial Aid % | Total Programs | Student-Teacher Ratio | Grad Rate | Description | Additional Benefits: | Placement Services | Counseling Services | Credit for Experience | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cabarrus College of Health Sciences |
99.82 | $$$$$ | 72% | 7 | 6:1 | N/A | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More | |
| 2 | Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte |
99.32 | $$$$$ | 100% | 4 | 22:1 | 44% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More | |
| 3 | Livingstone College |
99.21 | $$$$$ | 63% | 2 | 17:1 | 23% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Read More | |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
99.13 | $$$$$ | 45% | 9 | 13:1 | 89% | Additional Benefits: | Yes | Yes | No | Read More |
Search Vocational & Trade Schools in North Carolina
North Carolina has made a commitment to providing quality vocational education to residents. Between 2013 and 2015, Governor Pat McCrory made budget recommendations that would provide an additional $32 million to community colleges sponsoring programs in technology training and engineering. Governor McCrory recommended $28 million be allocated to equipment and infrastructure for the state’s community college system over the following few years.
There are several vocational school choices in North Carolina for students to choose from. Use the search tool below to find the best vocational and trade schools in North Carolina.
Quick Facts: North Carolina Trade Schools
94 percent of vocational and trade high school students in North Carolina graduated in 2013.
There are seven public high schools in the state dedicated solely to delivering vocational education.
In addition to post-secondary education, vocational and trade education is provided to students in North Carolina through comprehensive high schools, vocational high schools, career academies and STEM education schools.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, in the 2013-2014 school year, there were 526,263 secondary and 134,181 postsecondary students enrolled in vocational and trade programs in North Carolina.
Vocational Education Trends in North Carolina
Students in North Carolina who want to be trained for vocational positions can enroll in certificate programs that take one year or less to complete, as well as two-year associate’s degrees. Thanks to recent state legislation, it’s become much easier for high school students to work towards an associate degree, which helps to speed up the time it takes to train for a career. For example, the Huskins Bill allows secondary students to take community college courses right on their high school campuses, and concurrent enrollment programs make it possible for secondary students to earn credits that are applied to both their high school diploma and a college degree.
The table below provides a look at the certifications and degrees that are earned by students in North Carolina and compares those numbers to national data.
Distribution of Undergraduate Certificates & Degrees
| Credential | North Carolina | National |
|---|---|---|
| <1-year certificate | 15.3% | 14.7% |
| 1-year certificate | 8.6% | 12.6% |
| Associate degree | 25.0% | 24.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 51.1% | 48.0% |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (2010)
Careers for Vocational Graduates in North Carolina
Health-related positions are a growing industry in North Carolina like much of the nation. Popular careers among vocational and trade students include nursing assistant, registered nurse, medical assistant and dental hygienist jobs. With 100 community hospitals, six research hospitals, four acclaimed medical schools and private companies like Novo Nordisk, Pfizer and LabCorp, North Carolina’s vocational students can use their training in any number of healthcare settings.
Other popular industries for vocational graduates in North Carolina include legal and education. The table below outlines the number of jobs available to vocational and trade school graduates, the anticipated growth for these positions and the average salary of each position.
Careers with the Most Job Openings in New York
| Occupation | 2012 Employment | Projected Annual Job Openings | Percent Growth
(2012-2022) |
Median Annual Wage (North Carolina, 2014) | Median Annual Wage (National, 2014) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary, Non-Degree (Some College) | |||||
| Nursing Assistants | 54,380 | 68,840 | 27% | $22,200 | $25,100 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 51,660 | 58,610 | 13% | $37,100 | $39,500 |
| Teacher Assistants | 31,630 | 35,270 | 12% | $22,500 | $24,400 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses | 16,590 | 20,780 | 25% | $41,900 | $42,500 |
| Medical Assistants | 14,240 | 18,780 | 32% | $29,400 | $30,000 |
| Two-Year Associate Degree | |||||
| Registered Nurses | 87,850 | 105,730 | 20% | $58,900 | $66,600 |
| Preschool Teachers | 14,290 | 17,610 | 23% | $24,200 | $28,100 |
| Dental Hygienists | 6,160 | 9,590 | 56% | $67,500 | $71,500 |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians | 7,420 | 9,850 | 33% | $39,800 | $38,400 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | 10,140 | 12,900 | 27% | $40,700 | $48,300 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Career One Stop
A Closer Look: Trade Schools & Careers in Raleigh
Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh offers a wealth of vocational and trade options for students. Popular areas of study include business (662 students enrolled), computer and information science (244 students enrolled) and liberal arts and sciences (764 students enrolled).
Students who graduate with a credential in one of the school’s computer and information science programs can find employment in the city’s thriving technology sector, which includes companies that make defense technologies, computer hardware and interactive software products.
Raleigh is known for its growing healthcare industry and the majority of large biotechnology companies in the state are located in Raleigh’s Research Triangle Region, including pharmaceutical, agricultural biotechnology and advanced medical technology companies. Miller-Motte College-Raleigh, offers vocational and trade programs qualifying students to work in healthcare, including phlebotomy technician, medical/clinical assisting and nursing assistant certification programs.
Student and Job-Seeker Resources
Industry Reports – Department of Commerce
Includes economic impact and workforce information for some of North Carolina’s biggest industries, including the textile and apparel, aerospace and aviation and military sectors.
Online resource for North Carolina residents to explore careers, search job posting, and learn about the labor market and occupation profiles.
North Carolina Association for Career Technical Education
This organization provides assistance to the educators who deliver career and technical education to North Carolina’s vocational students.
North Carolina Department of Labor
The North Carolina Department of Labor’s site includes information on industries in the state, occupational safety and employee wage laws.
Post resumes, search jobs, and tap into employment resources.
North Carolina in the Global Economy
Provides information on the state’s top industries, including data on employment, wages and exports.