Do Students Succeed at Blue Ridge Community College?
Graduation rates, transfer data, and student outcome analysis for Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, NC.
Student Success at Blue Ridge Community College at a Glance
Blue Ridge Community College is a public institution offering at least 2 but less than 4 years programs located in Flat Rock, NC. Current enrollment is 2,723 students.
- 49.7% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 52.9% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 68% of exiters from its largest program (Associate of Science AAS Degree) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $8,439 per quarter after exiting Associate of Science AAS Degree
- 782 graduates across 94 programs in 2024
- VA-approved for GI Bill benefits — 62 students used them here
Program-Level Results · Verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
Verified Program Outcomes
Completion and employment results reported to the U.S. Department of Labor for Blue Ridge Community College programs on the state Eligible Training Provider List. Missing values ("—") mean the state suppressed or did not report that metric — they never mean zero.
| Program | Completion rate | Employed 6 mo after exit | Employed 1 yr after exit | Median quarterly earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate of Science AAS Degree | 27% | 68% | 71% | $8,439 |
| Business Administration Asssociate Degree | 15% | 80% | 75% | $11,509 |
| Information Technology - Artificial Intelligence Pathways AAS Degree | 14% | 69% | 74% | $10,860 |
| Associate Nursing Degree | 36% | 79% | 78% | $14,750 |
| Accounting AAS Degree | 34% | 84% | 82% | $12,741 |
| Business Administration Certificate | 23% | 66% | 67% | $5,884 |
| Early Childhood Associate AAS Degree | 17% | 72% | 72% | $8,808 |
| Criminal Justice Technology AAS Degree | 30% | 77% | 78% | $12,127 |
| Medication Aide Course | 94% | 83% | 89% | $9,739 |
| Horticulture Technology AAS Degree | 30% | 73% | 69% | $8,170 |
| Welding Technology Certificate | 33% | 64% | 48% | $4,038 |
| Office Administration-General Office Administration | 56% | 67% | 71% | $9,980 |
| Emergency Medical Science AAS Degree | 51% | 95% | 86% | $15,025 |
| Mechatronics Engineering Technology AAS Degree | 32% | 70% | 82% | $13,794 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technology AAS Degree | 24% | 63% | 65% | $13,023 |
| Horticulture Technician Basic Greenhouse Automation Certificate | 19% | 67% | 53% | $5,974 |
| Emergency Medical Technician Certificate | — | 74% | 61% | $6,457 |
| Computer Integrated Machining AAS Degree | 59% | 80% | 64% | $11,640 |
| Early Childhood Infant and Toddler Care Certificate | — | 100% | 100% | $8,809 |
| Human Services AAS Degree | 20% | 65% | 60% | $6,301 |
| Automotive Light-Duty Diesel Diploma | 31% | 83% | 88% | $7,072 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, WIOA participant outcomes (trainingproviderresults.gov), PY 2023.
College-Wide Statistics · IPEDS Federal Survey
What Are the Student Outcomes at Blue Ridge Community College?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at Blue Ridge Community College, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
52.9%
Working Student Success
58.8%
Transfer Out Rate
4.3%
Still Enrolled Rate
3.1%
How Blue Ridge Community College Compares
Blue Ridge Community College completes 53% of students — a meaningfully better-than-average outcome for the trade-school space. Combined with a 4% transfer-out rate, the data suggests strong institutional follow-through on the credential or pathway students enrolled for.
What Happens After Students Enroll at Blue Ridge Community College?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered Blue Ridge Community College. This shows what happened to students in their cohort by the end of the tracking period.
Understanding These Outcomes
Completed: Students who earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from this institution.
Still Enrolled: Students who remain enrolled at this institution after the tracking period.
Transferred Out: Students who transferred to another institution and may have completed there.
No Award: Students who left without earning a credential and are not enrolled elsewhere.
Combined completion and transfer rate of 51.1% indicates strong student success pathways.
These outcomes track what happened to students eight years after they first enrolled. Completion rates include certificates, diplomas, and degrees earned at this institution. Transfer rates show students who continued their education at other colleges. Understanding these pathways helps prospective students set realistic expectations and plan their educational journey.
What Are the Transfer and Continuation Patterns at Blue Ridge Community College?
Success Rates by Student Entry Pathway
Comparing completion rates across different student entry pathways helps understand which groups succeed and how transfer experience impacts outcomes.
Key Insights
First-time and transfer students achieve similar completion rates, indicating equitable support regardless of entry pathway.
Cohort Composition
Understanding Student Pathways
First-Time Students: Beginning postsecondary education for the first time at this institution.
Transfer-In Students: Previously attended another postsecondary institution before enrolling here.
Continuing Students: Returned to this institution after a break in enrollment.
Completion rates tracked over 8 years from initial entry.
Different student entry pathways lead to varying success rates. First-time students enter directly from high school or are starting college for the first time. Transfer students bring prior college experience and credits. Understanding these patterns helps you identify which pathway aligns best with your situation and predict your likelihood of success.
What Are the Completion Rates by Student Type at Blue Ridge Community College?
What does this mean for you? These completion rates show how different types of students succeed at this institution. Notably, part-time students have a higher success rate here (58.8% vs 48.6% for full-time), which is great news if you plan to work while studying. This pattern is common at trade colleges where programs are designed to accommodate working adults. First-time students are those new to college, while transfer students have attended another institution before.
What Are the Cohort Outcomes Over Time at Blue Ridge Community College?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 420 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
Full-time First-time Students
All First-time Students
All First-time Transfer Students
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
Part-time First-time Transfer Students
Part-time First-time Students
Part-time Non-first-time Transfer Students
All Part-time Students
Time to Completion
About This Data
Outcome measures data tracks student cohorts over 4, 6, and 8-year periods. Data is sourced from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and reflects the most recent available reporting year.