Central Piedmont Community College is a public community college founded in 1963 and located in Charlotte, North Carolina — the largest city in the Carolinas and one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States. Serving approximately 18,400 enrolled students across six campuses in the greater Charlotte-Mecklenburg area, Central Piedmont is one of the largest community colleges in the Southeast and a vital driver of workforce development and economic mobility in the region. The college offers over 300 degree programs, certificates, and diplomas spanning healthcare, information technology, engineering technology, business, culinary arts, visual arts, and liberal arts transfer pathways. With open admissions and in-state tuition of just $2,792 per year, Central Piedmont provides an extraordinarily affordable gateway to higher education and career credentials for students at every stage of life. The college's robust international student community of over 700 students from 95 countries reflects Charlotte's emergence as a global banking and business hub. Central Piedmont's Kal Kardous International Student Services Center provides dedicated immigration advising, cultural programming, and support for F-1 visa students. The college's network of campuses are connected to Charlotte's CATS light rail and bus system, placing students at the heart of one of the South's most dynamic economic engines. Central Piedmont's partnerships with Atrium Health, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Charlotte's technology sector create direct pathways from classroom to career.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
—
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$8936
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $8,936
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
