College of Wilmington
Wilmington, NC 28403
About College of Wilmington
College of Wilmington is a private for-profit trade school in Wilmington, North Carolina, enrolling about 132 students. Programs focus on certificates and workforce credentials that prepare students for skilled trades and technical careers. The published completion rate is about 15.00% at 150% of normal time. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $19,235 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $19,235.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of Wilmington | — | $23,108 | 1 |
| Private For-profit (national median) | $16,637 | — | 477 |
| North Carolina (state median) | $6,906 | $6,820 | 133 |
| Suburban (locale median) | $13,135 | $18,048 | 684 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is College of Wilmington really?
Evidence: average net price at College of Wilmington versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at College of Wilmington is $23,108.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $23,108 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $16,288 above the North Carolina median net price. Versus suburban campuses, net price runs $5,060 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
College of Wilmington: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for College of Wilmington—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Avg. net price
$23,108
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $19,117 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $22,403 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $26,512 |
| $110,001+ | $26,512 |
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What College of Wilmington is known for
Top program completions
- Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist64
- Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage29
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General19
See earnings & programs for more.
Is College of Wilmington a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
College of Wilmington is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for College of Wilmington.
Campus
Location
Wilmington, NC
City / state
- ZIP
- 28403
- NCES locale
- Suburb
Compared with Suburban campuses nationally, net price is 28% above the median for Suburban campuses ($18,048 median).
Control
Institution type
Private For-profit
Control
- Region
- Southeast
Size
Enrollment
132
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 203
- Full-time share
- 98%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$9,423
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 52.12%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional where not shown.
Tuition vs average net price after aid for College of Wilmington.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at College of Wilmington 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 College of Wilmington 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 | — | — | $12,038 |
| 2014 | — | — | $12,888 |
| 2015 | — | — | $13,171 |
| 2016 | — | — | $18,432 |
| 2017 | — | — | $18,796 |
| 2018 | — | — | $20,975 |
| 2019 | — | — | $21,923 |
| 2020 | — | — | $17,923 |
| 2021 | — | — | $16,956 |
| 2022 | — | — | $16,102 |
| 2023 | — | — | $14,063 |
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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
College of Wilmington reported total enrollment of about 132 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 6% male and 94% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (71.2%), Black or African American (15.9%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (10.6%). About 52.12% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 47.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
97.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at College of Wilmington in 2024 is 132 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 203 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
80.0%
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
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
5.00% 100% Completion Time
15.00% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 5.00% of students graduating from College of Wilmington completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist: 2% male / 98% female
- Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage: 14% male / 86% female
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General: 5% male / 95% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
College of Wilmington graduates earn a median of $19,235 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of College of Wilmington.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $19,235. Median federal loan debt: $9,423. Average net price used in cost models: $23,108.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway College of Wilmington graduates report median earnings of $19,235 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for College of Wilmington.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 3 programs by IPEDS completions (4 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at College of Wilmington.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for College of Wilmington graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for College of Wilmington—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $3,626
- North Carolina median 0.45× the median ($8,093)
- Southeast median 0.55× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 0.50× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
College of Wilmington at a glance
College of Wilmington
College of Wilmington is a private for-profit institution in Wilmington, NC.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care SpecialistMassage Therapy/Therapeutic MassageCosmetology/Cosmetologist, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian71.2%Black or African American15.9%Race/ethnicity unknown10.6%
Schools near College of Wilmington
Other campuses in Wilmington, NC when available, plus nearby institutions in North Carolina.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade F) within North Carolina, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is College of Wilmington located?
College of Wilmington is located in Wilmington, NC.
How much does College of Wilmington cost?
Reported tuition is N/A and average net price is $23,108 in the latest College Scorecard data.
What explains College of Wilmington's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($23,108), completion (15.0% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($19,235). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at College of Wilmington?
College of Wilmington reports undergraduate enrollment of about 203 students, White (71.2%), Black or African American (15.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend College of Wilmington?
About 47.6% of students at College of Wilmington are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of College of Wilmington earn?
Median earnings are $23,178 six years after entry and $19,235 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at College of Wilmington?
The 150%-time completion rate is 15.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do College of Wilmington students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $9,423.
Is College of Wilmington public or private?
College of Wilmington is a private for-profit institution located in Wilmington, NC.
Is College of Wilmington an HBCU?
No. College of Wilmington is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is College of Wilmington a tribal college?
No. College of Wilmington is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is College of Wilmington a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, College of Wilmington does not meet that proxy (reported share 0.8%).
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- North Carolina college profile
- North Carolina college costs
- North Carolina colleges by ROI
- North Carolina trade schools profile
- Wilmington, North Carolina city profile
- Southeast regional profile
- Suburban college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- 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 Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.