Career Training Path › North Carolina › Western Piedmont Community College
Western Piedmont Community College
Morganton, North Carolina · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 1001 Burkemont Ave, Morganton, NC 28655 · Phone: (828) 448-3500 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Western Piedmont Community College is a public trade and career school in Morganton, NC offering cosmetology, medical assistant, and welding programs, accredited by SACS.
Western Piedmont Community College has a 48.7% completion rate, near the state average of 47.8%, and graduates earn a median of $34,195 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Western Piedmont Community College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid can be used here, and about 45.4% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $26,880 | $38,410 | $48,300 |
| Medical assistants | $36,010 | $45,140 | $47,500 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $38,540 | $50,590 | $60,870 |
| Dental assistants | $38,240 | $50,380 | $57,720 |
| Construction laborers | $31,850 | $44,720 | $49,070 |
| Machinists | $37,110 | $55,230 | $62,680 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 27 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Associate degree | 18 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 11 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 9 | not reported | $27,995 | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 6 | $26,628 | $25,484 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 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
Western Piedmont Community College is a public community college in Morganton, North Carolina. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and its nursing offerings carry accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here. Across its 12 program families, the campus awards the most credentials in cosmetology schools, medical assistant programs, and welding schools, with cosmetology (62 completers) leading the way.
About 105 students completed trade programs recently out of an undergraduate enrollment of 1,339. The completion rate stands at 48.7%, which is near the state average of 47.8%. Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $34,195. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 45.4% of students receive Pell Grants, suggesting a substantial share of the student body has financial need.
This campus, located in a small city, may suit students seeking shorter, hands-on programs in fields like cosmetology, medical assisting, or welding rather than longer degree tracks, though specific program lengths are not detailed in this data. Adult learners or career changers considering a switch should verify current program offerings, schedules, and outcomes directly with the school. To confirm accreditation and outcomes independently, check the accreditors listed above and review the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard for this institution.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Western Piedmont Community College offers 12 program families, with the most completers in cosmetology schools, medical assistant programs, and welding schools.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and its nursing programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 48.7%, which is near the state average of 47.8%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school directly or check the College Scorecard link for more detail.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $34,195, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
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) 448-3500 or visit its website for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public community college, which typically means lower tuition for in-state residents and eligibility for state funding support.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported in this data; contact the school directly to ask about specific program durations.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and review outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?199908.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers programs in fields such as cosmetology, medical assisting, and welding, which are often shorter, hands-on options; however, specific scheduling and format details are not reported here, so contacting the school is recommended.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Western Piedmont Community College at (828) 448-3500 or visit https://www.wpcc.edu/ for application information.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
This data does not include comparisons with other nearby schools; check the College Scorecard for regional comparisons of similar programs.
Nearby trade and career schools in North Carolina
- Wilkes Community CollegeWilkesboro, NC · 55% completion
- Catawba Valley Community CollegeHickory, NC · 35% completion
- Caldwell Community College and Technical InstituteHudson, NC · 45% completion
- Mitchell Community CollegeStatesville, NC · 28% completion
- 2nd Opportunity Trucking SchoolStatesville, NC
- Caldwell Community College & Technical InstituteHudson, NC
- Mayland Community CollegeNewland, NC
- Wake Technical Community CollegeRaleigh, NC · 33% 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.