Do Students Succeed at Cape Fear Community College?
Student success metrics for Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, NC: graduation, transfer, and retention data.
Student Success at Cape Fear Community College at a Glance
Cape Fear Community College is a public institution offering at least 2 but less than 4 years programs located in Wilmington, NC. Current enrollment is 14,082 students.
- 34.5% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 33.9% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 31% of exiters from its largest program (General Education Development (GED) diploma) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $5,100 per quarter after exiting General Education Development (GED) diploma
- 2,957 graduates across 130 programs in 2025
- VA-approved for GI Bill benefits — 809 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 Cape Fear 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Education Development (GED) diploma | 84% | 31% | 32% | $5,100 |
| Business Administration | 9% | 70% | 72% | $9,595 |
| Healthcare Business Informatics | 6% | 45% | 49% | $5,042 |
| Information Technology | 22% | 64% | 68% | $10,527 |
| POWER LINE TECHNICIAN (Electrical Lineworker) | 91% | 37% | 40% | $10,737 |
| Marine Technology | 28% | 61% | 64% | $6,285 |
| Film and Video Production Technology | 26% | 69% | 71% | $5,863 |
| Interior Design | 20% | 69% | 63% | $8,022 |
| Criminal Justice Technology | 10% | 76% | 73% | $7,233 |
| Welding Technology | 33% | 76% | 79% | $8,808 |
| HEALTH AND FITNESS SCIENCE | 3% | 66% | 66% | $4,970 |
| Basic Law Enforcement Training | 63% | 92% | 91% | $13,339 |
| Medical Office Administration | 26% | 72% | 78% | $8,008 |
| Graphic Design | 13% | 57% | 68% | $7,463 |
| Electrical Lineman | 91% | — | — | — |
| Cyber Crime Technology | 18% | 71% | 66% | $7,319 |
| Early Childhood Education | 13% | 71% | 64% | $6,889 |
| Paralegal Technology | 22% | 68% | 68% | $9,306 |
| Practical Nursing | 67% | 85% | 84% | $11,046 |
| Veterinary Medical Technology | 55% | 87% | 87% | $8,455 |
| Automotive Systems Technology | 15% | 79% | 71% | $7,284 |
| Truck Driver Training | 78% | 63% | 59% | $7,877 |
| Mechatronics Engineering Technology | 44% | 81% | 81% | $17,177 |
| Computer-Integrated Machining | 41% | 77% | 84% | $11,080 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | 65% | 82% | 83% | $6,812 |
| Baking and Pastry Arts | 21% | 80% | 72% | $8,046 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technology | 19% | 69% | 68% | $9,513 |
| Architectural Technology | 40% | 57% | 54% | $4,616 |
| Chemical Technology | 16% | 59% | 48% | $8,108 |
| Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology | 54% | 65% | 60% | $9,084 |
| Emergency Medical Science | 24% | 78% | 63% | $10,674 |
| Paramedic | 24% | 77% | 57% | $10,674 |
| Radiography | 52% | 68% | 82% | $9,407 |
| Dental Assisting | 92% | 85% | 85% | $7,844 |
| Business Analytics | 21% | 76% | 78% | $10,404 |
| Certified Professional Coder | 91% | 56% | 52% | $9,575 |
| Outboard Engine Mechanic | 93% | 31% | 31% | $8,711 |
| Fire Protection Technology | 18% | 67% | 70% | $11,386 |
| Landscape Gardening and Horticulture Science | 30% | 65% | 58% | $8,850 |
| Dental Hygiene | 69% | 81% | 91% | $13,164 |
| Hospitality Management | 25% | 84% | 86% | $11,600 |
| Plumbing | 62% | 72% | 76% | $9,316 |
| Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Tech. | 62% | 74% | 76% | $8,653 |
| Boat Manufacture and Service Diploma | 65% | 61% | 72% | $7,473 |
| Medical Sonography | 56% | 66% | 64% | $14,585 |
| Certified Alcohol and Drug Counseling | 72% | 51% | 51% | $9,559 |
| Surgical Technology | 35% | 93% | 81% | $10,870 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | 91% | 69% | 92% | $6,804 |
| Pharmacy Technology | 71% | 70% | 74% | $7,262 |
| Medical Assisting AAS | 58% | 86% | 91% | $8,561 |
| Income Maintenance Caseworker-NCFAST | 81% | 59% | 66% | $9,241 |
| Electrical Systems Technology | 34% | 71% | 75% | $7,988 |
| Nursing - Includes ADN | 82% | 97% | 100% | $9,061 |
| Apartment Maintenance Technician | 80% | 60% | 71% | $9,948 |
| Cardiovascular Sonography | 64% | 64% | — | $14,295 |
| Small Engines Mechanic | 100% | 57% | 64% | $10,106 |
| Sustainability Technology | 19% | 68% | 71% | $7,227 |
| Certified Healthcare Access Associate | 64% | 44% | 57% | $6,372 |
| Nail Technician | 100% | 75% | — | $6,734 |
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 Cape Fear Community College?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at Cape Fear Community College, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
33.9%
Working Student Success
33.2%
Transfer Out Rate
23.1%
Still Enrolled Rate
0.8%
How Cape Fear Community College Compares
Cape Fear Community College's 34% completion rate is right in the typical band for trade and vocational schools — most peer institutions land somewhere in the 30–50% range. Another 23% transfer out and 1% remain enrolled; these together usually account for the bulk of the cohort, with only a smaller share leaving without a clear next step.
What Happens After Students Enroll at Cape Fear Community College?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered Cape Fear 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 53.7% 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 Cape Fear 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
Transfer students outperform first-time students by 30.0 percentage points, suggesting the institution provides strong support for transfer pathways and recognizes prior learning effectively.
Combined 22.0% transfer-out rate suggests this institution may serve as a stepping stone for students continuing their education elsewhere.
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 Cape Fear Community College?
What does this mean for you? These completion rates show how different types of students succeed at this institution. Full-time students have a higher completion rate (34.8%) compared to part-time students (33.2%). Consider your work and life commitments when deciding on your enrollment status. First-time students are those new to college, while transfer students have attended another institution before.
What Are the Cohort Outcomes Over Time at Cape Fear Community College?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 11,429 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
All First-time Transfer Students
Part-time First-time Transfer Students
Full-time Non-first-time Transfer Students
All Full-time Students
All Non-first-time Transfer Students
All Part-time Students
Part-time Non-first-time Transfer 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.