Gaston College Tuition, Completion & Outcomes (2026)
Gaston College is a public certificate and vocational school in Dallas, North Carolina, serving roughly 3,518 students. Programs focus on certificates and workforce credentials that prepare students for skilled trades and technical careers. Typical net price after grant aid is about $6,592 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $3,186. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $35,386 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $3,186
- 2024 Average Net Price: $6,592 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 3,518 38.9% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 63.13%
- Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-High Traditional
- First-Generation Students: 48.3%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 49.1% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 100.0%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,642
- Room & Board: $12,018 annual estimate
Gaston College: what the data shows
Common questions about Gaston College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Gaston College?
Gaston College is located in Dallas, NC (ZIP 28034).
NCES locale classification: Rural distant.
Is Gaston College public or private?
Gaston College is a Public institution.
How much does Gaston College cost?
Published tuition: $3,186 in-state, $9,330 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $6,592.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $5,784 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $5,579 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $8,432 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $10,952 |
| $110,001+ | $13,399 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $12,744.
How big is Gaston College?
Total enrollment: 3,518 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 8,642 students.
About 39% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Gaston College?
150%-time completion rate: 63.13%.
First-year retention: 54.4%.
What do graduates of Gaston College earn?
Median earnings: $31,988 six years after entry; $35,386 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
25.98% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Gaston College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (432 completions)
- Biotechnology (411 completions)
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training (195 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (164 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (141 completions)
- Information Technology (61 completions)
- Accounting and Finance (60 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (57 completions)
- Electrician (54 completions)
- Medical/Clinical Assistant (54 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Gaston College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 63.13%; median earnings $35,386 at 10 years; net price $6,592. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$3,186
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Gaston College was $3,186.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$6,592
2024 Value
In 2024 Gaston College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $6,592.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$26,368 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$6,592 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$12,744 4-Year In-State Tuition
$37,320 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$12,018 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,470 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$16,674 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$66,696 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Gaston College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
25.98% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
0.00% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
Not reported
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Gaston College was not reported in the College Scorecard extract for this institution.
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 Gaston 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 | $2,560 | $8,704 | $10,910 |
| 2014 | $2,560 | $8,704 | $10,273 |
| 2015 | $2,562 | $8,708 | $10,355 |
| 2016 | $2,562 | $8,708 | $10,575 |
| 2017 | $2,704 | $8,848 | $10,959 |
| 2018 | $2,704 | $8,848 | $9,160 |
| 2019 | $2,704 | $8,848 | $8,486 |
| 2020 | $2,704 | $8,848 | $12,994 |
| 2021 | $2,862 | $9,006 | $7,830 |
| 2022 | $3,186 | $9,330 | $3,857 |
| 2023 | $3,186 | $9,330 | $5,752 |
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
Gaston College reported total enrollment of about 3,518 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 35% male and 65% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (51.0%), Black or African American (19.5%), and Hispanic or Latino (12.0%). About 25.98% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 48.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
38.9% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Gaston College in 2024 is 3,518 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 8,642 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
54.4%
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 51.0%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
48.81% 100% Completion Time
63.13% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 48.81% of students graduating from Gaston 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: 38% male / 62% female
- Biotechnology: 9% male / 91% female
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training: 7% male / 93% 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 Gaston College.
Return on Investment
$35,386 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
1242.01% Return on Investment
Financial value analysis for Gaston College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 50 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 432 completions
2. Biotechnology: 411 completions
3. Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training: 195 completions
4. Business Administration and Management, General: 164 completions
5. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 141 completions
6. Information Technology: 61 completions
7. Accounting and Finance: 60 completions
8. Criminal Justice/Safety Studies: 57 completions
9. Electrician: 54 completions
Most popular programs at Gaston College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Gaston College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Gaston College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $6,358
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $4,957
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Gaston College is a public institution located in Dallas, NC, classified as Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-High Traditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Biotechnology, Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training. Enrollment is approximately 3,518 students. Student body composition includes White (51.0%), Black or African American (19.5%), Hispanic or Latino (12.0%). The 150%-time completion rate is 63.13%. Approximately 25.98% of students receive Pell Grants. About 48.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-High Traditional
Location
Dallas, NC 28034
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Gaston College provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Gaston College located?
Gaston College is located in Dallas, NC.
How much does Gaston College cost?
Reported tuition is $3,186 and average net price is $6,592 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,018 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Gaston College?
Gaston College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 8,642 students, White (51.0%), Black or African American (19.5%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Gaston College?
About 48.3% of students at Gaston College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Gaston College earn?
Median earnings are $31,988 six years after entry and $35,386 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Gaston College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 63.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
Is Gaston College public or private?
Gaston College is a public institution located in Dallas, NC.
Is Gaston College an HBCU?
No. Gaston College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Gaston College a tribal college?
No. Gaston College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Gaston College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Gaston College does not meet that proxy (reported share 12.0%).
Is Gaston College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Gaston College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
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
- Dallas, North Carolina city profile
- Southeast regional profile
- Rural college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in North Carolina
- North Carolina college costs
- North Carolina colleges by ROI
- North Carolina trade schools 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.