Recent study: four Eastern North Carolina community colleges are the best in the country

A recent study shows several Eastern North Carolina community colleges were ranked as the best in the United States, two of which were listed in the top 10.

SmartAsset, a New York-based financial technology company announced Lenoir Community College as ranking seventh in the nation in its 2022 Edition of 50 Best Community Colleges in America.

Carteret Community College in Morehead City ranked second. Craven Community College was ranked 51st and Coastal Carolina Community College was ranked 62nd.

More than 800 community colleges were reviewed and graded by their student-to-faculty ratio, graduation, and transfer rates, and tuition and fees cost for full-time students, according to the SmartAsset website.

All of the schools ranked in the top 10 were from North Carolina or Wisconsin.

Part-time students were not a part of the study and the cost was for attendance for full-time students that completed two semesters of coursework for the 2020-21 school year.

The average fees and tuition costs of the schools in the study came out to $4,578 a year. Schools ranked in the top 10 had average tuitions averaging half that amount.

The highest fees and tuition was at Illinois Valley Community College at $13,232. The lowest was Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque, N.M at $1,095.

“Community colleges are the most affordable option for students to obtain a degree or short-term training,” said Lenoir Community College President Dr. Rusty Hunt. “We are investing in our students to prepare the for the workforce. Our faculty and staff are second to none and they are experts in their fields. This recognition would not be possible without them and their genuine care for their students and their commitment to our mission. There has never been a better time to be at LCC."

LCC has recently accentuated its short-term training curriculums by opening new barber schools at the Jones County Center of LCC in Trenton and at the Workforce Development Center in Snow Hill.

Some other short-term training options are heating, ventilation and air conditioning and nail technology. For longer-term training, associate degrees in nursing and diplomas in licensed practical nursing are options for a much-needed workforce solution in that field.

LCC has over 60 programs for both long and short-term skill training through the Workforce Development Program, according to Richy Huneycutt, LCC public information officer.

The community college system enrollment was hit especially hard during the COVID-19 pandemic between the fall of 2019 and 2020 and dropped to 31.1%. Traditional four-year schools saw a lesser decrease at 5.1%, according to SmartAsset.

LLC won its spot in the top 10 by having a graduation and transfer rate of 72% and in-state tuition and fees at $2,568. The student-faculty ratio was 13. A student-faculty ratio is determined by the number of students attending a school divided by the number of faculty teaching.

Carteret Community College was ranked second on the list with a graduation and transfer rate of 72%, with in-state tuition and fees at $2,640. Their student-faculty ratio was 8.

“Carteret Community College is honored to be recognized by SmartAsset," said Dr. Tracy Mancini, president of Carteret CC by email. "Our student-to-faculty ratio and completion rates are favorable for students, and our faculty and trustees deliberately work to keep fees low to make post-secondary education affordable for our service area. The recognition truly affirms the excellent work of our faculty and staff to serve students and our coastal community."

Craven Community College was ranked 51, according to Craig Ramey, director of communications for Craven CC. He that the school being located near a military base could have been a factor in their college not being ranked higher.

“One thing we are looking at is our location and its proximity to Cherry Point, and the fact that we have a significant number of students who are military-affiliated," Ramey said. "Sometimes those students may end up getting transferred to another location, and those transfers will impact our numbers, specifically graduation rate that is part of this equation."

Ramey added Craven CC’s newer workforce development programs are in the trades offered at the newer Volt Center located in downtown New Bern. This center offers training in carpentry, bartending, diesel systems technology, and electrical, among others.

The school is now offering two new IT programs that focus on cybersecurity, as well as transfer programs for students wishing to pursue careers in K-12 education.

Coastal Carolina Community College in Jacksonville ranked 62 overall and the metrics showed a student-to-faculty ratio of 14 to 1, a graduation transfer rate of 54% and tuition and fees at $2,462, according to SmartAsset.

“I would just say in the greater scheme of things, relatively speaking, and given the challenges that we have faced, I am certainly not disappointed with that ranking, and I would congratulate all of those certainly within the state of North Carolina on fairing exceptionally well. I am very proud of that,” said Coastal Community College President David L. Heatherly. "Enrollment did drop significantly amid the COVID-19 pandemic."

Heatherly added the newest program the school offers is the one-semester Powerline Technician Program which is a partnership with Camp Lejeune. Many active-duty Marines are enrolled in the class.

“It’s a sixteen-week course and we have companies that attend our graduation and will interview those guys the day of graduation and hire them on the spot,” Heatherly said.

This article originally appeared on Kinston/Jones Free Press: Four Eastern North Carolina community colleges ranked best in nation