Career Training Path › North Carolina › Cape Fear Community College
Cape Fear Community College
Wilmington, North Carolina · Public community college
Construction trades programsAuto mechanic schoolsCosmetology schoolsHVAC schoolsEsthetician schoolsWelding schoolsElectrician schoolsMedical assistant programsRadiology & sonography programsLPN / LVN programsDental assistant schoolsPlumbing schoolsEMT & paramedic trainingDental hygiene programsCNC & machining programsPharmacy technician programsCulinary & pastry schoolsCNA classesSurgical technologist programs
35%completion rate · North Carolina avg 48%
$9,500median debt of graduates
$32,234median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$38,654median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
not reportedannual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing | American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation | American Occupational Therapy Association, Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy | Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (Accredited)
Address: 411 North Front Street, Wilmington, NC 28401 · Phone: (910) 362-7000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Address: 411 North Front Street, Wilmington, NC 28401 · Phone: (910) 362-7000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
Sanction on record, since lifted — Apr 2025 · Warning or Equivalent-Factors Affecting Academic Quality · American Occupational Therapy Association; Aug 2025 · Renewal of Accreditation. 2 sanction actions in the window.
Sanction on record, since lifted — Apr 2025 · Warning or Equivalent-Factors Affecting Academic Quality · American Occupational Therapy Association; Aug 2025 · Renewal of Accreditation. 2 sanction actions in the window.
Sanctions are probation, warning, show-cause and loss-of-accreditation actions by any recognized accreditor, including program-specific accreditors (a nursing-program probation counts for the campus). Routine monitoring reviews and voluntary withdrawals are not counted. Ask the school what the action concerned and how it was resolved.
Completion rate vs. benchmarks
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers | $31,850 | $44,720 | $49,070 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $31,500 | $48,200 | $63,170 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $26,880 | $38,410 | $48,300 |
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $37,780 | $57,260 | $64,310 |
| Skincare specialists | $25,570 | $39,120 | $57,000 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $38,540 | $50,590 | $60,870 |
| Electricians | $40,130 | $56,800 | $61,920 |
| Medical assistants | $36,010 | $45,140 | $47,500 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $52,860 | $74,450 | $83,340 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $50,480 | $63,270 | $69,700 |
| Dental assistants | $38,240 | $50,380 | $57,720 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters | $38,860 | $57,080 | $63,290 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $35,190 | $44,250 | $49,310 |
| Dental hygienists | $77,270 | $97,850 | $100,930 |
| Machinists | $37,110 | $55,230 | $62,680 |
| Pharmacy technicians | $35,820 | $44,530 | $48,480 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $38,210 | $61,130 | $76,330 |
| Nursing assistants | $30,260 | $38,460 | $43,850 |
| Surgical technologists | $45,990 | $60,920 | $68,520 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 64 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 59 | not reported | $18,087 | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 44 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 42 | not reported | $18,087 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 33 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Associate degree | 29 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 26 | not reported | $18,087 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 26 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 1–2 years | 22 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 21 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 19 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 17 | not reported | $38,289 | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 16 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 16 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 15 | $49,484 | $41,406 | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 14 | $49,484 | $41,406 | not reported |
| Carpenters | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 14 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 12 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate degree | 12 | not reported | $51,273 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 12 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 12 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 11 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Associate degree | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 9 | $49,484 | $41,406 | not reported |
| Carpenters | Certificate, 1–2 years | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 1–2 years | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 5 | $49,484 | $41,406 | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | $38,289 | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | $72,899 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | $38,289 | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 2 | 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.
The Path
Lineworkers earn $95k. Dental hygienists $98k. Barbers $38k.
The federal numbers on every trade, technical and healthcare career, in a free weekly newsletter.
Subscribe → 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.