Hickory, North Carolina Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Hickory, North Carolina: median public in-state tuition $17,164 (+211.4% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $45,543 (-16.3% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 91.0% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $15,469 (+16.6% vs U.S.) 4,100 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 4,100 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $17,164 (+211.4% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $45,543 (-16.3% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 91.0% (+3.0 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $15,608 (+56.6% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $15,469 (+16.6% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,456
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 47.8%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 75.5%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Hickory serve students across North Carolina with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 4,100 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $17,164. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Hickory, North Carolina and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Hickory vs North Carolina & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, North Carolina | $17,164 | $15,608 | $15,469 | 47.8% | 4,100 |
| North Carolina (state median) | $2,613 | $6,820 | $20,000 | 52.0% | 421,744 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Hickory, North Carolina vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, North Carolina | $45,543 | 91.0% | 75.5% | 9.3% | — | 77.0% | 0.57 |
| North Carolina (state median) | $47,364 | 86.1% | 73.1% | 6.8% | — | 64.8% | 0.54 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in North Carolina (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, North Carolina | $17,164 | $15,608 | $15,469 | 47.8% | 4,100 | $45,543 | 91.0% |
| Raleigh | $17,217 | $22,068 | $20,000 | 44.8% | 52,098 | $49,091 | 85.2% |
| Charlotte | $18,882 | $21,964 | $18,000 | 61.3% | 44,804 | $57,481 | 84.7% |
| Greensboro | $18,484 | $16,932 | $25,804 | 46.0% | 31,003 | $46,566 | 85.7% |
| Wilmington | $5,012 | $20,109 | $9,500 | 70.6% | 24,818 | $54,967 | 85.0% |
| Wilmington | $5,012 | $20,109 | $9,500 | 70.6% | 24,818 | $54,967 | 85.0% |
| Chapel Hill | $8,994 | $16,196 | $10,166 | 91.2% | 20,950 | $72,200 | 86.6% |
| Greenville | $7,361 | $13,617 | $15,750 | 62.6% | 19,951 | $55,146 | 88.4% |
| Greenville | $7,361 | $13,617 | $15,750 | 62.6% | 19,951 | $55,146 | 88.4% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Hickory, North Carolina by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 47.8%, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Top college in Hickory, North Carolina by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 91.0%, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Most selective college in Hickory, North Carolina (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 84.6%, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Top college in Hickory, North Carolina by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $64,846, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Top college in Hickory, North Carolina by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $78,839, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Top college in Hickory, North Carolina by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $44,799, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Top college in Hickory, North Carolina by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $48,452, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Top college in Hickory, North Carolina by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $45,543, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Top college in Hickory, North Carolina by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $128,972, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Most affordable college in Hickory, North Carolina (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $20,689, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Top college in Hickory, North Carolina by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 75.5%, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Lenoir-Rhyne University
In-state tuition: Hickory, North Carolina vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Hickory, North Carolina median in-state tuition is $17,164, +211.4% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Hickory, North Carolina vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Hickory, North Carolina is $15,469 (+16.6% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.
Median earnings (10 years out): Hickory, North Carolina vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Hickory, North Carolina center around $45,543 (-16.3% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Hickory, North Carolina vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 91.0% at the median Hickory, North Carolina campus (+3.0 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Hickory, North Carolina median public in-state tuition is $17,164, about +211.4% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +243.8%.
Median graduate debt is $15,469 (+16.6% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Hickory, North Carolina are $45,543, about -16.3% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 91.0% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+3.0 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 75.5% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 9.3% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 77.0% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Lenoir-Rhyne University (91.0%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Hickory, North Carolina is 47.8% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Hickory?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Hickory, North Carolina with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Hickory?
Median in-state tuition in Hickory is $17,164 and median net price is $15,608. For North Carolina overall, medians are $2,613 and $6,820; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Hickory?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Hickory is $45,543 vs $47,364 for North Carolina and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Hickory colleges?
Median completer debt in Hickory is $15,469 vs $20,000 for North Carolina and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Hickory?
Top campuses on this page include Lenoir-Rhyne University (graduation) and Lenoir-Rhyne University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Hickory?
Among 2 campuses in Hickory, North Carolina, 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Evangelical Lutheran Church (1).
Sources & related
- North Carolina college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON