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Wilkes Community College
Wilkesboro, North Carolina · Public community college
Address: 1328 South Collegiate Dr, Wilkesboro, NC 28697 · Phone: (336) 838-6100 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Wilkes Community College is a public trade school in Wilkesboro, NC offering auto mechanic, welding, and construction trades programs, accredited by SACS.
Wilkes Community College has a 55.4% completion rate, above the state average of 47.8%; graduates carry a median debt of $7,625 and earn a median of $34,728 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Wilkes Community College; federal financial aid can be used here, and about 45.5% of students receive Pell Grants.
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 |
| Construction laborers | $31,850 | $44,720 | $49,070 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $38,210 | $61,130 | $76,330 |
| Medical assistants | $36,010 | $45,140 | $47,500 |
| Dental assistants | $38,240 | $50,380 | $57,720 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $52,860 | $74,450 | $83,340 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $35,190 | $44,250 | $49,310 |
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 | 55 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 50 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 33 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 32 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 22 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 18 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 15 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 13 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 12 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 12 | $36,668 | $34,526 | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 11 | $22,940 | $23,824 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 9 | $43,545 | $38,721 | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 1–2 years | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Associate degree | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 7 | $43,545 | $38,721 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 7 | $36,668 | $34,526 | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | $24,421 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | $24,421 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 3 | $36,668 | $34,526 | 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
Wilkes Community College is a public trade and career campus in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and specific programs carry additional accreditation from the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, and the National League for Nursing's Commission for Nurse Education Accreditation. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here since the school participates in Title IV programs. Across its 24 programs, the campus awards the most credentials in auto mechanic schools (139), welding schools (68), and construction trades programs (48).
The completion rate at Wilkes Community College is 55.4%, above the state average of 47.8%. Graduates carry a median debt of $7,625, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $34,728. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 45.5% of students receive Pell Grants, reflecting a substantial share of lower-income students.
This campus, with 1,355 undergraduates in a distant-town setting, may suit students pursuing hands-on trade programs such as auto mechanics, welding, or construction, as well as those in healthcare-adjacent fields like dental assisting and radiologic technology. Whether specific programs fit an adult career-changer's schedule is not reported for this campus in federal data, so prospective students should contact the school directly. To verify accreditation and outcomes independently, check the listed accreditors and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Wilkes Community College offers 24 programs across families including auto mechanic schools, welding schools, construction trades programs, culinary schools, medical assistant programs, dental assistant schools, radiology tech programs, and EMT training. Its top programs by completions are auto mechanic schools, welding schools, and construction trades programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the campus is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, with additional program-specific accreditation from the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, and the National League for Nursing's Commission for Nurse Education Accreditation.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, Wilkes Community College participates in Title IV federal student 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 55.4%, which is above the North Carolina state average of 47.8%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $7,625, per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $34,728, 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 (336) 838-6100 or visit https://www.wilkescc.edu/ for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Wilkes Community College is a public institution, which generally means lower tuition for in-state residents and eligibility for state and federal aid programs.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the listed accrediting bodies and review official outcome data on the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?199926.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
Whether specific programs fit an adult career-changer's schedule is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school to discuss program formats and scheduling.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing and certification requirements are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school for information specific to each program.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Wilkes Community College at (336) 838-6100 or through its website at https://www.wilkescc.edu/.
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.