Western Piedmont Community College
Morganton, NC · Public two-year · City: Small
1,791undergraduates
$7,429average net price per year
36%finish in 3 years
76%return for year two
Admissions
Open admission: everyone with a high school diploma or equivalent is admitted.
Majors
36 undergraduate programs that awarded a degree or certificate last year, grouped by field. Numbers are how many were awarded.
Liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities (1)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies Associate (155 awarded)
Health professions and related programs (8)
- Clinical/Medical Laboratory Technician Associate (6 awarded)
- Dental Assisting/Assistant Certificate (1-2 years) (10 awarded)
- Medical Office Management/Administration Certificate (under 1 year) (6 awarded), Associate (3 awarded)
- Medical/Clinical Assistant Certificate (1-2 years) (9 awarded), Associate (9 awarded)
- Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions, Other Certificate (under 1 year) (9 awarded), Associate (2 awarded)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse Associate (21 awarded)
- Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Certificate (under 1 year) (1 awarded), Associate (5 awarded)
- Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy Associate (5 awarded)
Engineering/engineering-related technologies/technicians (5)
- Computer Engineering Technology/Technician Certificate (under 1 year) (9 awarded), Associate (2 awarded)
- Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician Associate (1 awarded)
- Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians, Other Certificate (under 1 year) (28 awarded), Associate (3 awarded)
- Electromechanical/Electromechanical Engineering Technology/Technician Certificate (under 1 year) (9 awarded), Associate (8 awarded)
- Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician Certificate (under 1 year) (3 awarded), Certificate (1-2 years) (1 awarded), Associate (4 awarded)
Business, management, marketing, and related support services (3)
- Accounting and Finance Certificate (under 1 year) (29 awarded), Associate (9 awarded)
- Business Administration and Management, General Certificate (under 1 year) (1 awarded), Certificate (1-2 years) (1 awarded), Associate (16 awarded)
- Office Management and Supervision Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded), Associate (2 awarded)
Education (3)
- Early Childhood Education and Teaching Certificate (under 1 year) (20 awarded), Associate (13 awarded)
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General Certificate (under 1 year) (4 awarded)
- Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching Certificate (under 1 year) (9 awarded)
Homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting and related protective services (2)
- Criminal Justice/Police Science Certificate (under 1 year) (30 awarded)
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies Associate (10 awarded)
Culinary, entertainment, and personal services (3)
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General Certificate (1-2 years) (7 awarded), Associate (9 awarded)
- Hair Styling/Stylist and Hair Design Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded)
- Nail Technician/Specialist and Manicurist Certificate (under 1 year) (11 awarded)
Foreign languages, literatures, and linguistics (1)
- Sign Language Interpretation and Translation Certificate (under 1 year) (9 awarded), Associate (6 awarded)
Legal professions and studies (1)
- Legal Assistant/Paralegal Certificate (under 1 year) (7 awarded), Associate (7 awarded)
Visual and performing arts (2)
- Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry Certificate (under 1 year) (3 awarded), Certificate (1-2 years) (1 awarded), Associate (1 awarded)
- Game and Interactive Media Design Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded), Associate (6 awarded)
Communications technologies/technicians and support services (1)
- Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects Certificate (under 1 year) (5 awarded), Associate (4 awarded)
Precision production (2)
- Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Certificate (under 1 year) (1 awarded), Associate (1 awarded)
- Welding Technology/Welder Certificate (under 1 year) (5 awarded), Associate (1 awarded)
Computer and information sciences and support services (1)
- Information Technology Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded), Associate (5 awarded)
Agricultural/animal/plant/veterinary science and related fields (1)
- Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations, General Certificate (under 1 year) (1 awarded), Associate (4 awarded)
Construction trades (1)
- Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection, Other Certificate (under 1 year) (3 awarded), Certificate (1-2 years) (1 awarded), Associate (1 awarded)
Family and consumer sciences/human sciences (1)
- Child Development Certificate (under 1 year) (5 awarded)
Cost and aid
- Tuition and fees, in-state
- $2,650
- Tuition and fees, out-of-state
- $8,794
- Books and supplies
- $1,200
- Total cost living at home
- $13,395
Published prices for 2023-24.
| Family income | Per year |
|---|---|
| $0-30,000 | $4,915 |
| $30,001-48,000 | $4,763 |
| $48,001-75,000 | $6,749 |
| $75,001-110,000 | $7,474 |
Net price is the full cost minus grants and scholarships, for full-time first-year students who got aid in 2022-23 and paid in-state tuition.
- First-year students who got any aid
- 84%
- Got grants or scholarships
- 72%
- Average grant or scholarship
- $8,118
- Got a grant from the college
- 2%
- Average grant from the college
- $875
- Undergraduates with a Pell grant
- 33%
- First-year students who borrowed
- 1%
- Average amount borrowed
- $5,662
Graduation
- Finished in 2 years
- 39%
- Finished in 3 years
- 36%
- Finished in 4 years
- 45%
- Transferred to another college
- 13%
- Came back for year two
- 76%
| Pell grant students | 37% |
|---|---|
| Neither | 33% |
| Group | Students | Graduated |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 40 | 23% |
| Men | 30 | 53% |
| Asian | 6 | 67% (small group) |
| Black | 6 | 17% (small group) |
| Hispanic | 8 | 63% (small group) |
| White | 50 | 30% |
| Started | Students | Earned a degree or certificate here | Enrolled at another college |
|---|---|---|---|
| Started here, full-time | 282 | 43% | 24% |
| Started here, part-time | 151 | 24% | 13% |
| Transferred in, full-time | 97 | 41% | 35% |
| Transferred in, part-time | 98 | 36% | 28% |
Graduation rates follow students who started full-time for the first time in fall 2020. Groups under 20 students are marked because a few students change the rate a lot.
Students
- Total students
- 1,791
- Undergraduates
- 1,791
- Full-time undergraduates
- 562
- Part-time undergraduates
- 1,229
- Students per faculty member
- 11 to 1
- Undergraduates age 25 and up
- 23%
- Undergraduates taking all classes online
- 25%
| Women | 62% |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 1% |
| Asian | 6% |
| Black | 6% |
| Hispanic | 15% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 0% |
| White | 71% |
| Two or more races | 1% |
| Race unknown | 0% |
| International | 0% |
Campus life
- Setting
- City: Small
- Address
- 1001 Burkemont Ave, Morganton, NC, 28655-4511
- County
- Burke County
- Part of
- North Carolina Community College System
- Type
- Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Career & Technical-High Nontraditional
- Highest degree
- Associates
- Academic calendar
- Semester
- Offers
- Online programs, Credit for AP exams
- Open admission
- Yes
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2022-23 to 2024-25 surveys), and the College Scorecard.