Career Training Path › North Carolina › Blue Ridge Community College
Blue Ridge Community College
Flat Rock, North Carolina · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 180 West Campus Drive, Flat Rock, NC 28731 · Phone: (828) 694-1700 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Blue Ridge Community College is a public trade and career school in Flat Rock, NC offering auto mechanic, welding, and cosmetology programs, accredited by SACS.
Blue Ridge Community College has a 49.7% completion rate, near the state average of 47.8%, with median graduate debt of $12,000 and median earnings of $36,324 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Blue Ridge Community College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including Pell Grants, is available, and 35.0% of students receive Pell.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $31,500 | $48,200 | $63,170 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $38,540 | $50,590 | $60,870 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $26,880 | $38,410 | $48,300 |
| Machinists | $37,110 | $55,230 | $62,680 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $35,190 | $44,250 | $49,310 |
| Skincare specialists | $25,570 | $39,120 | $57,000 |
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | $39,890 | $57,490 | $64,770 |
| Surgical technologists | $45,990 | $60,920 | $68,520 |
| Manicurists and pedicurists | $22,150 | $34,740 | $46,650 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in North Carolina (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 42 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 42 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 16 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 14 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 11 | not reported | $18,771 | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | $18,771 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Blue Ridge Community College is a public community college in Flat Rock, North Carolina, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (with additional accreditation for nursing programs from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing). Because it is a Title IV institution, students here can use federal financial aid such as FAFSA and Pell Grants. Across its 23 program offerings, the campus awards the most credentials in auto mechanic schools, welding schools, and cosmetology schools, alongside programs in CNC machining, EMT training, diesel mechanics, surgical technology, esthetics, and nail technology.
According to federal data, the completion rate at Blue Ridge is 49.7%, which is near the North Carolina state average of 47.8%. Graduates carry a median debt of $12,000, and median earnings ten years after entry are $36,324. About 35.0% of students receive Pell Grants, pointing to a substantial share of lower-income enrollees. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
With 212 trade completers among 1,758 undergraduates in a large suburban setting, this campus may suit both recent high school graduates and adult career changers, though specific program lengths are not detailed here. Prospective students should verify current program offerings, schedules, and costs directly with the school, and can confirm accreditation status and review detailed outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Blue Ridge Community College offers 23 programs, with the most completions in auto mechanic schools, welding schools, and cosmetology schools. It also offers CNC machining, EMT training, diesel mechanics, surgical technology, esthetics, and nail technology programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, Blue Ridge Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, with additional accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing for its nursing programs.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this is a Title IV institution, so students can use federal financial aid including FAFSA and Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 49.7%, which is near the North Carolina state average of 47.8%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $12,000, per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings ten years after entry are $36,324, per federal data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (828) 694-1700 or visit https://www.blueridge.edu/ for current tuition.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Blue Ridge Community College is a public institution, which typically means lower tuition for state residents and public accountability standards.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported in the data provided; contact the school directly to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through SACS and ACEN, and review detailed federal outcome data at the College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?198039.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The data does not specify program formats tailored to career changers, so this cannot be confirmed from federal data alone; contact the school to discuss scheduling and program fit for adult learners.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing and certification requirements are not reported in this data; contact the school directly for details specific to each program, such as welding or cosmetology licensure.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Blue Ridge Community College at (828) 694-1700 or through its website at https://www.blueridge.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on nearby schools is not included here; use the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?198039 to compare outcomes across institutions.
Nearby trade and career schools in North Carolina
- Southwestern Community CollegeSylva, NC · 53% completion
- McDowell Technical Community CollegeMarion, NC · 48% completion
- Mayland Community CollegeSpruce Pine, NC · 46% completion
- Haywood Community CollegeClyde, NC · 34% completion
- Carolina CDL Training CenterCandler, NC
- Wake Technical Community CollegeRaleigh, NC · 33% completion
- NASCAR Technical InstituteMooresville, NC · 65% completion
- Cape Fear Community CollegeWilmington, NC · 35% completion
See all trade and career schools in North Carolina or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.