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Gaston College

Dallas, North Carolina · Public community college

Electrician schoolsWelding schoolsLPN / LVN programsCNA classesHVAC schoolsEsthetician schoolsAuto mechanic schoolsCNC & machining programsMedical assistant programsCosmetology schoolsEMT & paramedic trainingPhlebotomy classesPharmacy technician programs
63%completion rate · North Carolina avg 48%
not reportedmedian debt of graduates
$31,988median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$35,386median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
not reportedannual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (Accredited)
Address: 201 Hwy 321 S, Dallas, NC 28034 · Phone: (704) 922-6200 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
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
Gaston College Gaston College: 63.1% 63.1% North Carolina average North Carolina average: 47.8% 47.8% National average National average: 62.1% 62.1%

What these trades pay once you're working

OccupationStarting (10th pct)MedianExperienced (75th)
Electricians$40,130$56,800$61,920
Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers$38,540$50,590$60,870
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses$50,480$63,270$69,700
Nursing assistants$30,260$38,460$43,850
HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers$37,780$57,260$64,310
Skincare specialists$25,570$39,120$57,000
Automotive service technicians and mechanics$31,500$48,200$63,170
Machinists$37,110$55,230$62,680
Medical assistants$36,010$45,140$47,500
Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists$26,880$38,410$48,300
Emergency medical technicians$35,190$44,250$49,310
Phlebotomists$35,210$43,330$46,860
Pharmacy technicians$35,820$44,530$48,480

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

ProgramCredentialGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Earnings, yr 2Median debt
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Certificate, 300–899 hours 56 not reported not reported not reported
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate, 1–2 years 48 $39,070 $41,295 not reported
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate, 300–899 hours 47 $39,070 $41,295 not reported
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) Certificate, 300–899 hours 34 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 300–899 hours 34 not reported not reported not reported
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Certificate, 300–899 hours 27 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 25 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 300–899 hours 19 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 300–899 hours 16 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Certificate, 1–2 years 10 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 9 not reported not reported not reported
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Associate degree 9 not reported not reported not reported
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Associate degree 8 not reported not reported not reported
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) Certificate, 1–2 years 6 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 6 not reported not reported not reported
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions Certificate, 300–899 hours 5 not reported not reported not reported
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Certificate, 1–2 years 5 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Associate degree 4 $28,988 $27,126 not reported
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Certificate, 1–2 years 4 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 300–899 hours 3 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 3 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Certificate, 300–899 hours 2 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Certificate, 300–899 hours 2 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Associate degree 2 $28,988 $27,126 not reported
Precision Metal Working Associate degree 2 not reported not reported not reported
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services 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.

Visit the school's website ↗

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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.

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