Central Piedmont Community College Tuition & Completion

Last updated: June 29, 2026 Source: College Scorecard

Central Piedmont Community College is a public community college in Charlotte, North Carolina, with about 15,067 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $3,345 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $2,792. Student demographics in federal data include White (30.8%) and Black or African American (30.1%) among the largest enrollment groups.

Key Facts

  • 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $2,792
  • 2024 Average Net Price: $3,345 After Financial Aid
  • 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
  • 2024 Enrolled Students: 15,067 41.6% Full-Time
  • 2024 Graduation Rate: 30.91%
  • Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
  • First-Generation Students: 40.9%
  • Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 31.7% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Full-Time Faculty: 27.3%
  • Undergraduate Enrollment: 28,850
  • Room & Board: $11,239 annual estimate

Central Piedmont Community College: what the data shows

Common questions about Central Piedmont Community College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.

Where is Central Piedmont Community College?

Central Piedmont Community College is located in Charlotte, NC (ZIP 28204).

NCES locale classification: City.

Is Central Piedmont Community College public or private?

Central Piedmont Community College is a Public institution.

How much does Central Piedmont Community College cost?

Published tuition: $2,792 in-state, $8,936 out-of-state.

Average net price after aid: $3,345.

Family income bandAvg. net price
Family income $0–$30,000$3,258
$30,001–$48,000$2,068
$48,001–$75,000$4,725
$75,001–$110,000$8,010

Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $11,168.

How big is Central Piedmont Community College?

Total enrollment: 15,067 students.

Undergraduate enrollment: 28,850 students.

About 42% enroll full-time in our extract.

What is the graduation rate at Central Piedmont Community College?

150%-time completion rate: 30.91%.

First-year retention: 69.9%.

What do graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn?

Median earnings: $32,138 six years after entry; $37,865 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).

How much debt do students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers: $7,925.

29.10% of students receive Pell grants.

What is Central Piedmont Community College known for?

Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:

See ROI & Programs for more.

Is Central Piedmont Community College a good school?

We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 30.91%; median earnings $37,865 at 10 years; net price $3,345. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.

Tuition & Cost

Tuition Costs

$2,792
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Central Piedmont Community College was $2,792.

Tuition comparison with similar institutions.

Average Net Price

$3,345
2024 Value

In 2024 Central Piedmont Community College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $3,345.

Average net price comparison with similar institutions.

Total Cost of Attendance

$13,380 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost

$3,345 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)

$11,168 4-Year In-State Tuition

$35,744 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition

$11,239 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)

$1,926 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)

$15,957 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)

$63,828 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)

4-year total cost breakdown for Central Piedmont Community College.

Financial Aid by Income Level

29.10% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

0.00% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

Financial aid distribution by income level.

Student Loan Default Rate

0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)

The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Central Piedmont Community College was 0.00%.

Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.

Tuition tracker

Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Central Piedmont Community College in that year.

Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).

Year In-state tuition & fees Out-of-state tuition & fees Average net price
2013$2,561$8,705$11,296
2014$2,664$8,808$8,507
2015$2,664$8,808$6,665
2016$2,792$8,936$7,222
2017$2,792$8,936$6,101
2018$2,792$8,936$6,325
2019$2,792$8,936$6,002
2020$2,792$8,936$5,710
2021$2,792$8,936$5,750
2022$2,792$8,936$5,359
2023$2,792$8,936$3,660

Sticker tuition and net price over time

Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.

College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).

Net price by family income

Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).

Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate

Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.

Acceptance rate compared to national average.

Test Scores

Test score data is not available for this institution.

Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.

Academic Requirements

GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.

Estimated GPA and test score ranges.

Enrollment & Student Demographics

Central Piedmont Community College reported total enrollment of about 15,067 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 42% male and 58% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (30.8%), Black or African American (30.1%), and Hispanic or Latino (20.8%). About 29.10% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 40.9% of students are first-generation college students.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

41.6% Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Central Piedmont Community College in 2024 is 15,067 students.

Undergraduate enrollment is about 28,850 students.

Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.

Retention Rate over Time

69.9%
2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.

Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 30.8%.

Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).

College Scorecard student demographics.

Graduates & Outcomes

Time to Complete

18.27% 100% Completion Time

30.91% 150% Completion Time

In 2024, 18.27% of students graduating from Central Piedmont Community College completed their program within 100% "normal time".

Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.

Completions by Sex (Top Programs)

  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 41% male / 59% female
  • Information Technology: 65% male / 35% female
  • Game and Interactive Media Design: 71% male / 29% female

IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).

Completions by Race & Ethnicity

Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.

Summed across program completion records in our extract.

ROI & Programs

Financial value and program information for Central Piedmont Community College.

Return on Investment

$7,925 Median Student Debt

$37,865 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)

20.93% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio

2729.97% Return on Investment

2.1 years Estimated Payback Period

Financial value analysis for Central Piedmont Community College.

Top Programs by Completions

10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 79 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).

1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 1,822 completions

2. Information Technology: 716 completions

3. Game and Interactive Media Design: 448 completions

4. Early Childhood Education & Teaching: 409 completions

5. Business Administration and Management, General: 346 completions

6. Culinary Arts/Chef Training: 284 completions

7. Welding Technology/Welder: 258 completions

8. Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician: 249 completions

9. Building/Property Maintenance: 203 completions

Most popular programs at Central Piedmont Community College.

Employment Outcomes

Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.

Earnings outcomes for Central Piedmont Community College graduates.

Operations

Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Central Piedmont Community College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).

Instructional Resources

  • Full-time faculty share: 27.3%
  • Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $6,511
  • Instructional expenditure per FTE: $5,650

Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.

Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.

About

Central Piedmont Community College is a public institution located in Charlotte, NC, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Information Technology, Game and Interactive Media Design. Enrollment is approximately 15,067 students. Student body composition includes White (30.8%), Black or African American (30.1%), Hispanic or Latino (20.8%). The 150%-time completion rate is 30.91%. Approximately 29.10% of students receive Pell Grants. About 40.9% of students are first-generation college students.

Institution Type

Public

Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional

Location

Charlotte, NC 28204

Region: Southeast

Insights and Analysis

Graduation Rate Considerations: The 30.91% graduation rate at Central Piedmont Community College falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.

Diverse Program Offerings: With over 79 distinct degree programs, Central Piedmont Community College provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Central Piedmont Community College located?

Central Piedmont Community College is located in Charlotte, NC.

How much does Central Piedmont Community College cost?

Reported tuition is $2,792 and average net price is $3,345 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $11,239 annually.

What is the student body demographics at Central Piedmont Community College?

Central Piedmont Community College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 28,850 students, White (30.8%), Black or African American (30.1%) in federal College Scorecard data.

How many first-generation students attend Central Piedmont Community College?

About 40.9% of students at Central Piedmont Community College are first-generation college students.

What do graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn?

Median earnings are $32,138 six years after entry and $37,865 ten years after entry.

What is the graduation rate at Central Piedmont Community College?

The 150%-time completion rate is 30.9% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.

How much debt do Central Piedmont Community College students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers is $7,925.

Is Central Piedmont Community College public or private?

Central Piedmont Community College is a public institution located in Charlotte, NC.

Is Central Piedmont Community College an HBCU?

No. Central Piedmont Community College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.

Is Central Piedmont Community College a tribal college?

No. Central Piedmont Community College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.

Is Central Piedmont Community College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?

Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Central Piedmont Community College does not meet that proxy (reported share 20.8%).

Is Central Piedmont Community College religiously affiliated?

No religious affiliation is reported for Central Piedmont Community College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • North Carolina trade schools profile
  • Charlotte, North Carolina city profile
  • Southeast regional profile
  • All state profiles
  • Regional profiles
  • National benchmarks
  • School directory
  • All schools in North Carolina

    • Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.

    Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.

    Methodology

    Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.

    All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.