Backstage Country

LISTEN LIVE

New Agreement Provides ‘Gateway’ To Private North Carolina University For A Fraction Of Cost

If there’s one thing that I wish I would have paid A LOT more attention to, from the second my child was born, it would be college tuition.  In the…

Rowan Cabarrus Community College and Wingate University enter into historic agreement
Pexels/Photo by Keira Burton

If there's one thing that I wish I would have paid A LOT more attention to, from the second my child was born, it would be college tuition.  In the moment, eighteen years just seems like a lifetime.  What you discover as a parent is that is literally the blink of an eye.  The cost of higher education is no joke.  We've sold a house and moved across a state line to better afford it.  Which is why I want to bring to your attention this massive announcement from Wingate University.

Wingate is a private and costly institution.  Yesterday, the "Gateway to Wingate" agreement was signed between Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and the university.  This is HUGE.  Here's how it works.  First, a student completes his/her two-year associate’s degree at RCCC with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.  Step Two:  if the student meets Wingate’s eligibility requirements, application to the school is free.  Free application is great, but that's not EVEN the savings of interest.  No, here's the biggie.

ANY accepted transfer student from the Gateway to Wingate program will pay no more than $2,500 a year in tuition.  That's it.  Now, I'm not saying that's not a lot of dough, it is.  HOWEVER, a third-year student at Wingate is forking over more than $42,000 per year in tuition (before any financial aid is factored in).  So, it would be a savings of more than $39,000 a year!  That's a "WOW!"

According to WBTV.com, leaders from both institutions say this partnership is effective immediately. That means a student who starts at Rowan-Cabarrus this fall can begin getting support from an advisor to get the, on the pathway to Wingate.

These Are The Top 25 Highest Rated Community Colleges In North Carolina

With the cost of college soaring, high school seniors and those looking to go back to school have tough decisions to make. In many circumstances, it doesn't make sense to go to a 4-year University. Whether you are looking to take a more specialized career path or just knock out some credits before transferring over to another institution to finish your degree. Regardless of your motivation community college is a great option and one that many people choose to pursue. Additionally, community colleges are cheaper than even in-state schools and have 100% admission rates. This makes them accessible to more prospective students. But which school should you go to? There are many community colleges in North Carolina. Some of your decision may depend on the field you'd like to study. There is also a discrepancy in cost between different schools. Location of course also is an important factor as students at community colleges do not live on campus. That's why Niche created its Community College Rankings. Keep reading to see the top 25 highest-rated community colleges in North Carolina.

On this list, you'll find public junior colleges, public technical schools, and all other public 2-year colleges. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

25. Brunswick Community College

Location: Bolivia, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $7,400

24. Central Piedmont Community College

Location: Charlotte, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $6,652

23. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

Location: Salisbury, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $3,451

22. Southeastern Community College

Location: Whiteville, NC

Acceptance Rate: 110%

Net Cost: $4,534

21. Wake Technical College

Location: Raleigh, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $5,269

20. Richmond Community College

Location: Hamlet, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $4,984

19. Nash Community College

Location: Rocky Mount, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $6,321

18. Lenoir Community College

Location: Kinston, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $4,836

17. Guilford Technical Community College

Location: Jamestown, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $10,857

16. Piedmont Community College

Location: Roxboro, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $2,844

15. Johnston Community College

Location: Smithfield, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $5,735

14. Surry Community College

Location: Dobson, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $7,196

13. College of Albemarle

Location: Elizabeth City, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $,4613

12. Halifax Community College

Location: Weldon, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $3,514

11. Davidson-Davie Community College

Location: Thomasville, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $7,922

10. Western Piedmont Community College

Location: Morganton, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $5,093

9. Randolph Community College

Location: Asheboro, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $6,58

8. Cleveland Community College

Location: Shelby, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $1,048

7. Sampson Community College

Location: Clinton, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $10,312

6. Stanly Community College

Location: Albemarle, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $6,219

5. Blue Ridge Community College

Location: Flat Rock, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $7,924

4. Sandhills Community College

Location: Pinehurst, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $8,967

3. Wayne Community College

Location: Goldsboro, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $5,900

2. Southwestern Community College (North Carolina)

Location: Sylva, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $5,562

1. Craven Community College

Location: New Bern, NC

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Net Cost: $6,967

Charlie Nance is the Afternoon Drive co-host (along with his wife) of "The Charlie and Debbie Show" at WSOC, Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The couple have been with the radio station since 2006. Charlie has won the prestigious CMA (Country Music Association) Award for Radio Personality of the Year and has been a finalist for the Country Radio Hall of Fame four times. Prior to his time in Charlotte, Charlie (along with Debbie) spent more than a decade hosting successful morning radio shows in Greenville, SC; Augusta, Ga; and Birmingham, Al. As a content creator for Country 1037, Charlie writes about dream lottery windfalls, sports, restaurants and bars, and travel experiences in North and South Carolina.