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Isothermal Community College
Spindale, North Carolina · Public community college
Address: 286 ICC Loop Road, Spindale, NC 28160 · Phone: (828) 286-3636 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Isothermal Community College is a public trade and career school in Spindale, North Carolina offering electrician, welding, and construction trades programs, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Isothermal Community College has a 55.5% completion rate, above the North Carolina state average of 47.8%, and median graduate earnings of $33,325 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median graduate debt is not reported for this campus.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Isothermal Community College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid is accepted (Title IV), and about 34.5% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricians | $40,130 | $56,800 | $61,920 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $38,540 | $50,590 | $60,870 |
| Construction laborers | $31,850 | $44,720 | $49,070 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $26,880 | $38,410 | $48,300 |
| Skincare specialists | $25,570 | $39,120 | $57,000 |
| Machinists | $37,110 | $55,230 | $62,680 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $50,480 | $63,270 | $69,700 |
| Manicurists and pedicurists | $22,150 | $34,740 | $46,650 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $35,190 | $44,250 | $49,310 |
| Dental assistants | $38,240 | $50,380 | $57,720 |
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 | 26 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 20 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 1–2 years | 15 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 14 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 14 | not reported | $35,060 | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 13 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 13 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 12 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Associate degree | 9 | not reported | $47,260 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 1–2 years | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 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.
About this school
Isothermal Community College is a public community college in Spindale, North Carolina. It participates in federal Title IV financial aid programs, so eligible students can use FAFSA-based aid to help pay for programs here. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, with its dental program specifically accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation. Across 18 program families, the campus's top trade programs by completions are electrician schools (44 completers), welding schools (38), and construction trades programs (19), alongside offerings in cosmetology, esthetics, CNC machining, LPN nursing, nail technology, EMT training, and dental assisting.
Isothermal's completion rate is 55.5%, which is above the North Carolina state average of 47.8%. Median earnings for graduates 10 years after entry are $33,325. Median debt of graduates and annual cost of attendance are not reported for this campus in federal data. About 34.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of students with financial need. Total undergraduate enrollment is 1,169, with 187 trade program completers reflected in the data reviewed.
Located in a distant-town locale, this campus offers a mix of shorter trade certificates and longer associate-level programs across skilled trades and health fields, which may suit both recent high school graduates and adult career changers, though specific program lengths and schedules are not detailed in this dataset. Prospective students should confirm current tuition, program length, and licensing requirements directly with the school at (828) 286-3636 or via its website, and can verify accreditation and outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Isothermal Community College offers 18 program families, with the top programs by completions being electrician schools (44), welding schools (38), and construction trades programs (19). It also offers cosmetology, esthetics, CNC machining, LPN, nail tech, EMT training, and dental assisting programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited. It holds regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and its dental program is accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA-based aid, including Pell Grants, to help cover costs.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 55.5%, which is above the North Carolina state average of 47.8%, according to federal data.
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 for updates.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Graduates earn a median of $33,325 ten years after entering the program, per federal Scorecard data.
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) 286-3636 or visit its website for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Isothermal Community College is a public institution, which typically means lower published tuition for state residents and public accountability for federal financial aid use.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported in this data. Contact the school directly to confirm the duration of individual programs such as electrician or welding training.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and check enrollment and outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?198710.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers a range of trade certificate and associate-level programs in fields like electrical work, welding, and healthcare, which may appeal to career changers, though specific scheduling details for working adults are not reported here.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Isothermal Community College at (828) 286-3636 or through its website, https://www.isothermal.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Direct comparisons with other nearby trade schools are not available in this dataset; use the College Scorecard to compare completion rates, costs, and earnings across schools.
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.