The average graduation rate of North Carolina colleges is 49.63%. It means that 49.63% of students have completed their studies within 150% of program length.
For the bachelor's degree (BS) in 4-year North Carolina colleges, the average graduation rate is 50.84%, which means 50.84% of students earned BS degree in 6 years after enrolling first year.
In North Carolina 2-year institutions (i.e. community colleges), the average graduation rate is 44.76%.
For North Carolina colleges, Duke University has the highest graduation rate of 96.78% among 4-year colleges. For North Carolina community colleges, Montgomery Community College has the highest graduation rate of 83.87%.
The following table compares graduation rates between North Carolina colleges. For 4-year colleges, the rates are based on the time it takes to earn a bachelor's degree, which typically requires 4 years of study. Therefore, 100% normal time means 4-year, 125% normal time means 5-years, and the 150% normal time means 6 years.
For community colleges (2-4 year schools) and trade schools, the completion time to measure graduation rates vary depending on the length of the program. For example, 150% normal time for 1-year certificate programs is 18 months and 3 years for 2-years associate degree.
| School | Graduation Rate (Completers) | Transfer-out Rate | Retention Rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In 100% Normal Time | In 125% Normal Time | In 150% Normal Time | |||
| College of the AlbemarleCommunity College | 23.19% | - | 34.78% | 31% | 72% |
| South Piedmont Community CollegeCommunity College | 27.41% | - | 38.07% | 15% | 57% |
| Appalachian State University4-Year College, public | 58.72% | 72.47% | 74.53% | 18% | 84% |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeCommunity College | 30.99% | - | 39.84% | 9% | 59% |
| Barton College4-Year College, private | 35.02% | 44.77% | 45.85% | - | 65% |
| Beaufort County Community CollegeCommunity College | 33.03% | - | 47.71% | - | 76% |
| Belmont Abbey College4-Year College, private | 42.09% | 45.92% | 46.68% | - | 70% |
| Bennett College4-Year College, private | 19.68% | 25.00% | 25.00% | 61% | 86% |
| Bladen Community CollegeCommunity College | 22.73% | - | 22.73% | 23% | 67% |
| Blue Ridge Community CollegeCommunity College | 28.25% | - | 49.72% | 14% | 70% |
| Brevard College4-Year College, private | 34.11% | 46.90% | 48.84% | 12% | 62% |
| Brunswick Community CollegeCommunity College | 28.65% | - | 40.35% | 14% | 66% |
| Cabarrus College of Health Sciences4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | 100% |
| Caldwell Community College and Technical InstituteCommunity College | 32.57% | - | 44.74% | 17% | 71% |
| Campbell University4-Year College, private | 47.59% | 58.71% | 59.95% | 30% | 76% |
| Cape Fear Community CollegeCommunity College | 27.56% | - | 34.46% | 2% | 67% |
| Carteret Community CollegeCommunity College | 39.80% | - | 48.98% | 14% | 62% |
| Catawba College4-Year College, private | 47.29% | - | 47.29% | - | 77% |
| Catawba Valley Community CollegeCommunity College | 4.72% | - | 35.19% | 33% | 65% |
| Central Carolina Community CollegeCommunity College | 27.34% | - | 42.93% | 16% | 73% |
| Central Piedmont Community CollegeCommunity College | 18.27% | - | 30.91% | 26% | 70% |
| Chowan University4-Year College, private | 19.08% | 28.02% | 29.95% | 39% | 71% |
| Cleveland Community CollegeCommunity College | 11.96% | - | 31.52% | - | 20% |
| Coastal Carolina Community CollegeCommunity College | 31.97% | - | 49.36% | 18% | 59% |
| Craven Community CollegeCommunity College | 36.89% | - | 48.36% | 13% | 66% |
| Davidson-Davie Community CollegeCommunity College | 29.69% | - | 45.94% | 13% | 66% |
| Davidson College4-Year College, private | 85.63% | 90.29% | 91.07% | - | 95% |
| Duke University4-Year College, private | 86.95% | 95.17% | 96.78% | 1% | 98% |
| Durham Technical Community CollegeCommunity College | 22.46% | - | 44.93% | 15% | 66% |
| East Carolina University4-Year College, public | 43.33% | 59.59% | 62.62% | 27% | 83% |
| Edgecombe Community CollegeCommunity College | 36.54% | - | 36.54% | - | 79% |
| Elizabeth City State University4-Year College, public | 23.56% | 39.66% | 43.51% | 28% | 77% |
| Elon University4-Year College, private | 79.86% | 83.16% | 84.04% | - | 90% |
| Fayetteville Technical Community CollegeCommunity College | 5.99% | - | 23.50% | 18% | 58% |
| Fayetteville State University4-Year College, public | 23.73% | 34.86% | 38.46% | 29% | 75% |
| Forsyth Technical Community CollegeCommunity College | 22.72% | - | 34.20% | 12% | 73% |
| Gardner-Webb University4-Year College, private | 47.85% | 53.42% | 54.43% | 1% | 55% |
| Gaston CollegeCommunity College | 48.81% | - | 63.13% | 12% | 54% |
| Greensboro College4-Year College, private | 39.67% | 44.57% | 46.20% | 33% | 66% |
| Guilford College4-Year College, private | 36.31% | 43.85% | 45.81% | 34% | 65% |
| Guilford Technical Community CollegeCommunity College | 4.46% | - | 31.10% | 14% | 64% |
| Halifax Community CollegeCommunity College | 5.41% | - | 35.14% | - | 61% |
| Haywood Community CollegeCommunity College | 20.31% | - | 33.59% | 16% | 64% |
| Heritage Bible College4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | 100% |
| High Point University4-Year College, private | 65.82% | 70.39% | 72.08% | - | 85% |
| Isothermal Community CollegeCommunity College | 39.02% | - | 55.49% | 30% | 71% |
| James Sprunt Community CollegeCommunity College | 30.09% | - | 47.79% | 2% | 77% |
| Johnson C Smith University4-Year College, private | 21.61% | 31.41% | 34.29% | - | 71% |
| Johnston Community CollegeCommunity College | 25.89% | - | 36.61% | 24% | 67% |
| Lees-McRae College4-Year College, private | 37.10% | 41.18% | 42.08% | 41% | 69% |
| Lenoir Community CollegeCommunity College | 23.78% | - | 35.68% | 22% | 65% |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University4-Year College, private | 35.48% | 46.57% | 47.78% | - | 76% |
| Leons Beauty School IncTrade School | 74.09% | - | 96.37% | - | 85% |
| Livingstone College4-Year College, private | 17.55% | 25.63% | 28.41% | - | 71% |
| Louisburg CollegeCommunity College | 18.75% | - | 21.88% | 13% | 41% |
| Mars Hill University4-Year College, private | 33.84% | 42.97% | 44.87% | 18% | 69% |
| Martin Community CollegeCommunity College | 17.86% | - | 39.29% | 11% | 76% |
| Mayland Community CollegeCommunity College | 34.00% | - | 46.00% | 12% | 76% |
| McDowell Technical Community CollegeCommunity College | 16.13% | - | 48.39% | 13% | 80% |
| Meredith College4-Year College, private | 62.84% | 68.58% | 70.07% | 23% | 79% |
| Methodist University4-Year College, private | 29.27% | 41.46% | 43.36% | 39% | 65% |
| Miller-Motte College-Wilmington4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mitchell Community CollegeCommunity College | 12.08% | - | 27.92% | 19% | 61% |
| Mitchells AcademyTrade School | - | - | - | - | 93% |
| Montgomery Community CollegeCommunity College | 9.68% | - | 83.87% | - | 50% |
| Montreat College4-Year College, private | 36.54% | 44.23% | 48.08% | 2% | 59% |
| University of Mount Olive4-Year College, private | 34.27% | 37.90% | 48.39% | 28% | 72% |
| College of WilmingtonTrade School | 5.00% | - | 15.00% | - | 80% |
| Nash Community CollegeCommunity College | 27.85% | - | 41.28% | 28% | 75% |
| North Carolina A & T State University4-Year College, public | 36.27% | 52.54% | 57.18% | 22% | 78% |
| University of North Carolina Asheville4-Year College, public | 43.22% | 51.53% | 54.48% | 34% | 72% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill4-Year College, public | 83.60% | 90.04% | 91.17% | 5% | 97% |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte4-Year College, public | 50.07% | 66.09% | 68.97% | 21% | 85% |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro4-Year College, public | 38.57% | 53.05% | 56.31% | 27% | 79% |
| North Carolina Central University4-Year College, public | 26.20% | 38.19% | 41.65% | 33% | 73% |
| University of North Carolina School of the Arts4-Year College, public | 74.49% | 76.95% | 77.78% | 16% | 93% |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh4-Year College, public | 67.65% | 83.02% | 85.32% | - | 94% |
| North Carolina Wesleyan University4-Year College, private | 29.27% | 39.12% | 41.97% | 35% | 59% |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington4-Year College, public | 56.40% | 68.11% | 70.59% | 22% | 88% |
| Pamlico Community CollegeCommunity College | 53.85% | - | 53.85% | 23% | 57% |
| William Peace University4-Year College, private | 31.60% | 43.40% | 44.81% | 38% | 74% |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke4-Year College, public | 26.57% | 39.65% | 43.54% | 31% | 72% |
| Pfeiffer University4-Year College, private | 25.82% | 33.66% | 34.97% | 45% | 72% |
| Piedmont Community CollegeCommunity College | 10.00% | - | 20.00% | 10% | 60% |
| Pitt Community CollegeCommunity College | 21.76% | - | 35.29% | 17% | 65% |
| Queens University of Charlotte4-Year College, private | 52.59% | 59.95% | 61.31% | - | 74% |
| Randolph Community CollegeCommunity College | 46.06% | - | 58.18% | 12% | 68% |
| Richmond Community CollegeCommunity College | 34.87% | - | 46.05% | 14% | 70% |
| Mid-Atlantic Christian University4-Year College, private | 13.73% | 15.69% | 21.57% | 28% | 32% |
| Roanoke-Chowan Community CollegeCommunity College | 10.53% | - | 36.84% | 21% | 78% |
| Robeson Community CollegeCommunity College | 21.09% | - | 32.65% | 15% | 57% |
| Rockingham Community CollegeCommunity College | 16.59% | - | 35.07% | 13% | 68% |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community CollegeCommunity College | 27.61% | - | 35.10% | 16% | 60% |
| Saint Augustine's University4-Year College, private | 14.71% | 21.08% | 24.51% | - | - |
| Salem College4-Year College, private | 50.50% | 57.43% | 57.43% | - | 68% |
| Sampson Community CollegeCommunity College | 40.74% | - | 56.48% | 10% | 66% |
| Sandhills Community CollegeCommunity College | 37.83% | - | 52.79% | 21% | 80% |
| Shaw University4-Year College, private | 9.74% | 19.49% | 21.79% | - | 52% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-FayettevilleTrade School | - | - | 66.04% | - | 77% |
| St. Andrews University4-Year College, private | 18.42% | 26.84% | 26.84% | 37% | 48% |
| Southeastern Community CollegeCommunity College | 30.43% | - | 43.48% | 26% | 57% |
| Southwestern Community CollegeCommunity College | 41.59% | - | 53.10% | 6% | 75% |
| Stanly Community CollegeCommunity College | 47.76% | - | 47.76% | 11% | 63% |
| Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary4-Year College, private | 8.70% | 17.39% | 17.39% | - | 85% |
| Surry Community CollegeCommunity College | 3.96% | - | 6.40% | 33% | 73% |
| Alamance Community CollegeCommunity College | 26.23% | - | 39.34% | 19% | 72% |
| Tri-County Community CollegeCommunity College | 44.29% | - | 54.29% | 10% | 76% |
| Vance-Granville Community CollegeCommunity College | 42.96% | - | 52.59% | 13% | 76% |
| Wake Forest University4-Year College, private | 84.23% | 88.45% | 89.15% | - | 93% |
| Wake Technical Community CollegeCommunity College | 18.75% | - | 32.96% | 18% | 72% |
| Warren Wilson College4-Year College, private | 39.60% | 41.20% | 42.00% | - | 71% |
| Watts College of Nursing4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Wayne Community CollegeCommunity College | 29.86% | - | 49.31% | 15% | 67% |
| Western Piedmont Community CollegeCommunity College | 48.72% | - | 48.72% | 23% | 75% |
| Wilkes Community CollegeCommunity College | 55.36% | - | 55.36% | 6% | 69% |
| Wilson Community CollegeCommunity College | 15.15% | - | 27.27% | 21% | 73% |
| Wingate University4-Year College, private | 37.77% | 45.06% | 46.35% | 38% | 70% |
| Carolina Christian College4-Year College, private | 11.11% | - | 11.11% | 23% | - |
| Winston Salem Barber SchoolTrade School | 62.73% | - | 62.73% | - | 68% |
| Winston-Salem State University4-Year College, public | 30.04% | 42.70% | 46.78% | - | 77% |
| Western Carolina University4-Year College, public | 43.96% | 57.74% | 60.26% | 27% | 79% |
| Pinnacle Institute of CosmetologyTrade School | 47.62% | - | 52.38% | - | 73% |
| Carolinas College of Health Sciences4-Year College, public | - | - | - | - | - |
| Gwinnett CollegeTrade School | 38.16% | - | 63.16% | - | 74% |
| Universal Technical Institute-MooresvilleCommunity College | 33.47% | - | 65.30% | - | 77% |
| Hood Theological Seminary4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paul Mitchell the School-CharlotteTrade School | 11.11% | - | 55.56% | - | 76% |
| Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte4-Year College, private | 26.29% | 32.73% | 33.76% | 4% | 72% |
| Empire Beauty School-ConcordTrade School | - | - | 65.12% | - | 66% |
| Southeastern College-CharlotteCommunity College | 77.24% | - | 77.24% | - | 73% |
| Strayer University-North Carolina4-Year College, private | 33.33% | - | 33.33% | - | - |
| Aveda Institute-Chapel HillTrade School | 1.82% | - | 81.82% | - | 82% |
| Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Center for MassageTrade School | 84.00% | - | 90.00% | - | - |
| Miller-Motte College-RaleighCommunity College | 77.00% | - | 79.00% | - | 68% |
| Health And Style InstituteCommunity College | 7.29% | - | 51.04% | - | 57% |
| Miller-Motte College-FayettevilleCommunity College | 77.18% | - | 77.67% | - | 73% |
| Empire Beauty School-CharlotteTrade School | - | - | 23.53% | - | 48% |
| Empire Beauty School-Winston-SalemTrade School | - | - | 44.00% | - | 75% |
| Empire Beauty School-PinevilleTrade School | - | - | 48.15% | - | 62% |
| Carolina College of Hair Design IncTrade School | 72.00% | - | 72.00% | - | 87% |
| Miller-Motte College-JacksonvilleCommunity College | 69.59% | - | 75.00% | - | 78% |
| Carolina College of Biblical Studies4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | 100% |
| Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Shepherds Theological Seminary4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Manna University4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | 100% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-RaleighTrade School | 14.29% | - | 14.29% | - | 80% |
| Empire Beauty School-West GreensboroTrade School | - | - | 31.91% | - | 54% |
| MyComputerCareer at RaleighCommunity College | 51.61% | - | 60.37% | 6% | 77% |
| South University-High Point4-Year College, private | - | - | - | 25% | - |
| DeVry University-North Carolina4-Year College, private | - | - | - | 33% | - |
| Alexander Paul Institute of Hair DesignTrade School | 18.18% | - | 63.64% | - | 91% |
| Beyond Measure Barbering InstituteTrade School | 44.12% | - | 58.82% | 3% | 38% |
| Chamberlain University-North Carolina4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | 50% |
| Carolina University4-Year College, private | 19.30% | 21.05% | 21.05% | 17% | 56% |
| Bull City Durham Beauty and Barber CollegeTrade School | 22.22% | - | 77.78% | - | 67% |
| No Grease Barber SchoolTrade School | 33.33% | - | 66.67% | - | 75% |
| Southeastern Free Will Baptist Bible College4-Year College, private | 25.00% | 41.67% | 41.67% | 8% | 81% |
| Elevate Salon InstituteTrade School | - | - | - | - | 67% |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance-CharlotteCommunity College | 70.00% | - | 70.00% | - | 83% |
| Gaston CollegeCommunity College | - | - | - | - | - |
| Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary-Nash County Extension Center4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary-Wake County Extension CenterCommunity College | - | - | - | - | - |
| Winston - Salem Barber School - SatelliteTrade School | - | - | - | - | - |
| South College-Asheville4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Union Presbyterian Seminary-Charlotte4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| ECPI University-Greensboro4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| ECPI University-Charlotte4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| ECPI University-Raleigh4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Galen Health Institutes-Asheville4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Strayer University-North Charlotte4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Strayer University-South Charlotte4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Strayer University-North Raleigh Campus4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Strayer University-South Raleigh Campus4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| One Stop AcademyTrade School | - | - | - | - | 38% |