There are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top North Carolina Colleges for an Associate ranking - to help you make that decision.
After analyzing 55 schools in North Carolina, we came up with our list of those that offered the best associate degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
Early-Career Salaries Are Higher
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a associate degree from the school. A associate degree holder from a school in North Carolina makes an average starting salary of $33,987, but the students who attended schools in the top 25 of our list make an average of $35,511.
Starting Salary ( 28273 to 40360 )
Average Student Debt
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that students take on while pursuing their associate degree.
When attending a school in North Carolina, associate degree students accumulate an average of $17,467 in student debt before graduation.
The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Associate Degree Schools ranking.
Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
If you'd rather work on your associate degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our rankings by place. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.
Our 2024 rankings named North Carolina State University the best school in North Carolina in terms of overall quality for students working on their associate degree. Raleigh, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 125 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $35,537 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $13,167 in student loans.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte. The school came in at #2 in North Carolina on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and it awarded 206 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $26,084 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $13,982 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $314 for a 10-year repayment plan.
A rank of #3 on our Best Associate Degree in North Carolina list means Wake Technical Community College is a great place for students working on their degree. Wake Technical Community College is a large public school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 3,141 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $36,230 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $18,792 in student loans.
Out of the 55 associate degree schools in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, Catawba Valley Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Hickory, North Carolina, the small public school handed out 734 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from CVCC make an average of $31,090 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $10,990.
The excellent associate degree programs at Cleveland Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in North Carolina. Shelby, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 403 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Cleveland Community College go into careers with an average salary of $41,453 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $5,500 after getting their degree.
Beaufort County Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina ranking. Beaufort County Community College is a public institution located in Washington, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 320 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Beaufort County Community College make an average of $41,797 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $13,475 in student loans.
With a ranking of #7, Central Piedmont Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina list. This fairly large public school is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and it awarded 2,460 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Central Piedmont Community College make an average of $36,005 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $11,922 in student loans.
With a ranking of #8, Johnston Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina list. Johnston Community College is a small public school situated in Smithfield, North Carolina. It awarded 719 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Johnston Community College make an average of $39,244 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $10,904 in student loans.
Gaston College landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina ranking. Gaston College is a medium-sized public school located in Dallas, North Carolina that handed out 755 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Gaston College make an average of $30,992 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $8,592 in student loans.
Forsyth Technical Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina ranking. Forsyth Tech is a public institution located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,163 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Forsyth Tech is $34,317 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $17,181.
Guilford Technical Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina list. Located in Jamestown, North Carolina, the fairly large public school awarded 1,500 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $29,908 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $22,077.
With a ranking of #12, Pitt Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina list. This medium-sized public school is located in Winterville, North Carolina, and it awarded 1,259 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $31,752 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $23,909.
Mitchell Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina ranking. Located in Statesville, North Carolina, the small public school awarded 428 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $30,295 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $12,313.
Durham Technical Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina ranking. Durham Technical Community College is a small public school situated in Durham, North Carolina. It awarded 634 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $39,898 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $21,631 after getting their degree.
Central Carolina Community College landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina ranking. Central Carolina Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Sanford, North Carolina. It awarded 549 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Central Carolina Community College is $30,871 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $8,850 after getting their degree.
Fayetteville Technical Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina list. Located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the fairly large public school awarded 1,883 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from FTCC go into careers with an average salary of $32,563 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $17,418 after getting their degree.
Alamance Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina list. Located in Graham, North Carolina, the small public school awarded 605 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from ACC go into careers with an average salary of $30,283 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $6,812.
With a ranking of #18, Wayne Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina list. This small public school is located in Goldsboro, North Carolina, and it awarded 555 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Wayne Community College make an average of $33,473 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $5,750 after getting their degree.
Surry Community College landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina ranking. Surry Community College is located in Dobson, North Carolina and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 396 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $32,152 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $6,500.
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina ranking. Located in Salisbury, North Carolina, the medium-sized public school awarded 915 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College go into careers with an average salary of $32,511 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $9,376 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #21, Strayer University - North Carolina did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina list. Strayer University - North Carolina is a private for-profit institution located in Greensboro, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 111 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Strayer University - North Carolina go into careers with an average salary of $42,325 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $33,207 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #22, Stanly Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina list. Located in Albemarle, North Carolina, the small public school handed out 362 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Stanly Technical College make an average of $40,419 a year.
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina ranking. Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Asheville, North Carolina that handed out 789 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from A-B Tech is $34,823 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $16,649 after getting their degree.
Sampson Community College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina list. Located in Clinton, North Carolina, the small public school handed out 320 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Sampson Community College go into careers with an average salary of $55,640 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $9,893 after getting their degree.
South Piedmont Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina list. South Piedmont Community College is located in Polkton, North Carolina and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 273 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from South Piedmont Community College is $38,106 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $11,000 in student loans.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
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