Do Students Succeed at Wake Technical Community College?
Explore what happens after enrollment at Wake Technical Community College — completion, transfer, and outcome statistics.
Student Success at Wake Technical Community College at a Glance
Wake Technical Community College is a public institution offering at least 2 but less than 4 years programs located in Raleigh, NC. Current enrollment is 24,609 students.
- 33% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 32.3% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 72% of exiters from its largest program (A25800 Accounting and Finance AAS) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $14,441 per quarter after exiting A25800 Accounting and Finance AAS
- 6,535 graduates across 130 programs in 2024
- VA-approved for GI Bill benefits — 1,400 students used them here (Yellow Ribbon participant)
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 Wake Technical 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A25800 Accounting and Finance AAS | 26% | 72% | 74% | $14,441 |
| Advertising and Graphic Design | 29% | 65% | 65% | $9,660 |
| WCE - Nurse Aide I | 70% | 72% | 73% | $6,151 |
| WCE - IT Support Technician | 61% | 69% | 72% | $10,664 |
| WCE - Central Sterile Processing Technician | 75% | 79% | 76% | $8,733 |
| WCE - Network Technician | 56% | 71% | 69% | $14,981 |
| Dental Assisting | 25% | 78% | 79% | $7,828 |
| WCE - Healthcare Billing and Coding | 77% | — | — | — |
| WCE - Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) (Voucher Included) | 6% | 71% | 76% | $9,050 |
| WCE - Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair | 87% | 36% | 32% | $7,816 |
| WCE - Healthcare Clinical Research Specialist | 72% | 67% | 65% | $13,893 |
| A50420 Welding Technology | 28% | 71% | 69% | $9,980 |
| WCE - Apartment Maintenance Technicians Training | 69% | 58% | 54% | $11,279 |
| Medical Assisting AAS | 11% | 79% | 80% | $7,299 |
| Pharmacy Technology-AAS | 11% | 71% | 100% | $7,344 |
| WCE - Registered Behavior Technician Training (Voucher Included) | 68% | 84% | 77% | $6,806 |
| WCE - Certified Phlebotomy Technician (Vouchers and Lab Included) | 75% | — | — | — |
| WCE - Certified Physical Therapy Aide (Voucher Included) | 76% | 77% | 75% | $6,698 |
| WCE - CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst CySA+ CS0-002 | 68% | 68% | 64% | $16,924 |
| WCE - Natural Hair Care Specialist | 93% | 57% | 54% | $5,972 |
| WCE - Certified Nursing Assistant | 72% | 95% | 90% | $7,783 |
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 Wake Technical Community College?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at Wake Technical Community College, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
32.3%
Working Student Success
34.4%
Transfer Out Rate
29.8%
Still Enrolled Rate
1.3%
How Wake Technical Community College Compares
Wake Technical Community College's 32% completion rate is right in the typical band for trade and vocational schools — most peer institutions land somewhere in the 30–50% range. Another 30% 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 Wake Technical Community College?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered Wake Technical 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 46.5% 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 Wake Technical 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.
Combined 29.0% 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 Wake Technical 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 (34.4% vs 30% 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 Wake Technical Community College?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 9,050 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
Part-time First-time Transfer Students
Part-time First-time Students
All First-time Transfer Students
All First-time Students
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
Full-time First-time Students
All Part-time Students
All Full-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.