HomeNorth CarolinaWelding schools › Western Piedmont Community College

Western Piedmont Community College

Morganton, North Carolina · public · mainly awards associate degrees · 1,339 students · WeldingMachining & CNCDental AssistingMedical AssistingCosmetologyBarbering

Avg net price / yr
$6,448
cheaper than 67% of comparable schools
Completion rate
37%
Median debt at completion
not reported
Median earnings (10 yrs after entry)
$34,195
earns ~$5,303.2 per $1k of yearly net price

About

Western Piedmont Community College is a public school in Morganton, NC, that mainly awards associate degrees and certificates. With an average annual net price of $6,448, it serves students who need affordable training in fields like nursing and allied health. The institution offers 50+ programs, including certificates and degrees in cosmetology, metal working, and dental support services.

What to know

The school's completion rate is reported at 37%, which is typical for public community colleges where transfer students are not always counted in the metric. While median student debt at completion is not reported, the average annual net price after aid is $6,448, so a student would need to compare this yearly cost against their potential earnings to understand total debt burden. Reported median earnings for graduates vary by program, ranging from $25,484 in medical assisting to $61,218 in registered nursing ten years after entry.

Reported median earnings are 11% below the national median ($38,354) for comparable schools.

See what aid you may qualify for

45.4% of students here receive federal Pell Grants. Get aid deadlines and program matches for Welding programs in North Carolina.

We may share your info with matched school and program partners so they can contact you about enrollment. Unsubscribe anytime. See our privacy & editorial policy.

Programs & what graduates earn

ProgramCredentialMedian earnings 2 yrs after completion
Dental Support Services and Allied Professionsundergraduate certificate$27,995
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Servicesassociate degree$25,484
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Servicesassociate degreenot reported
Precision Metal Workingundergraduate certificatenot reported
Precision Metal Workingassociate degreenot reported
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Show all 48 other programs at this school
ProgramCredentialMedian earnings (2 yr after completion)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursingassociate degree$61,218
Criminal Justice and Correctionsundergraduate certificate$36,085
Agricultural Production Operationsassociate degreenot reported
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Servicesassociate degreenot reported
Natural Resources Conservation and Researchassociate degreenot reported
Graphic Communicationsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Graphic Communicationsassociate degreenot reported
Computer and Information Sciences, Generalundergraduate certificatenot reported
Computer and Information Sciences, Generalassociate degreenot reported
Educational Administration and Supervisionundergraduate certificatenot reported
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methodsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methodsassociate degreenot reported
Civil Engineering Technologies/Techniciansundergraduate certificatenot reported
Civil Engineering Technologies/Techniciansassociate degreenot reported
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Techniciansassociate degreenot reported
Electromechanical Technologies/Techniciansundergraduate certificatenot reported
Electromechanical Technologies/Techniciansassociate degreenot reported
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Techniciansundergraduate certificatenot reported
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Techniciansassociate degreenot reported
Engineering-Related Technologies/Techniciansassociate degreenot reported
Computer Engineering Technologies/Techniciansundergraduate certificatenot reported
Computer Engineering Technologies/Techniciansassociate degreenot reported
American Sign Languageundergraduate certificatenot reported
American Sign Languageassociate degreenot reported
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Legal Support Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Legal Support Servicesassociate degreenot reported
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanitiesassociate degreenot reported
Criminal Justice and Correctionsassociate degreenot reported
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspectionundergraduate certificatenot reported
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspectionassociate degreenot reported
Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanryundergraduate certificatenot reported
Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanryassociate degreenot reported
Design and Applied Artsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Design and Applied Artsassociate degreenot reported
Health and Medical Administrative Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Health and Medical Administrative Servicesassociate degreenot reported
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professionsassociate degreenot reported
Health/Medical Preparatory Programsassociate degreenot reported
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professionsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professionsassociate degreenot reported
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professionsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professionsassociate degreenot reported
Business Administration, Management and Operationsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Business Administration, Management and Operationsassociate degreenot reported
Accounting and Related Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Accounting and Related Servicesassociate degreenot reported

Questions students ask

How much financial aid is available and how many students rely on federal grants?
Forty-five point four percent of students receive Pell Grants, indicating significant federal aid availability for those with financial need.
What programs are offered and at what credential levels?
The school offers undergraduate certificates and associate degrees in areas such as dental support services, allied health, cosmetology, precision metal working, and registered nursing, plus 47 other programs.
What do graduates of specific programs typically earn?
Median earnings two years after completion are $27,995 for dental support services, $25,484 for medical assisting, and $61,218 for registered nursing.
How many students finish their programs?
The reported completion rate is 37%. Note that for public community colleges, this rate often undercounts students who successfully transfer to four-year institutions.
Is Western Piedmont Community College a public or private school?
It is a public school located in Morganton, NC.

Other options in North Carolina

SchoolCityNet price / yrCompletionEarnings (10 yr)
College of the AlbemarleElizabeth City$2,25334%$33,234
South Piedmont Community CollegePolkton$6,67526.9%$37,308
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeAsheville$11,60233.6%$36,048
Beaufort County Community CollegeWashington$6,50042.7%$32,519
Bladen Community CollegeDublin$9,55123.7%$30,591
Blue Ridge Community CollegeFlat Rock$5,75648.8%$36,324
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (most recent release, pulled July 2026), school ID 199908. Figures are federally reported medians and may lag current prices. "Not reported" means the federal dataset suppresses or lacks the value — often due to small cohort sizes. How we compute comparisons. This site is independent and not affiliated with any government agency or school.