Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Pamlico Community College

Open-data reference.

We found 13 schools structurally similar to Pamlico Community College that cost less. 11 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Pamlico Community College

Grantsboro, North Carolina · Public

$1,321
Net Price
$30,005
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
50.0%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Pamlico Community College

Pamlico Community College posts an average net price of $1,321 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with Pamlico Community College across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 13 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $2,393, achieved by Western Technology Center at -$1,072. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 11 of the 13 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Pamlico Community College’s $30,005, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $31,758.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

13
Alternatives Found
$2,393
Max Savings
11
Better Value Options
62%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. Western Technology Center $30k 2. Coastal Pines Technical Coll $30k 3. Atlanta Technical College $30k 4. Piedmont Community College $33k 5. Wiregrass Georgia Technical $31k Compared to Pamlico Community College: $30k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

A negative College Scorecard net price means the institution reported average grant and scholarship aid above its cost-of-attendance estimate for the covered first-time, full-time aid recipients. It is a cohort average, not a promise that every student is paid to attend.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
Western Technology Center
Burns Flat, OK · Public
-$1,072 -$2,393 $29,728 63.0% 62%
Coastal Pines Technical College
Waycross, GA · Public Better Value
-$126 -$1,447 $30,214 47.1% 60%
Atlanta Technical College
Atlanta, GA · Public Better Value
-$914 -$2,235 $30,350 46.0% 59%
Piedmont Community College
Roxboro, NC · Public Better Value
$1,095 -$226 $33,274 38.6% 58%
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Valdosta, GA · Public Better Value
$614 -$707 $30,864 47.4% 58%
Instituto Tecnologico de Puerto Rico-Recinto de San Juan
San Juan, PR · Public
$1,121 -$200 $26,293 64.0% 53%
South Georgia Technical College
Americus, GA · Public Better Value
$1,164 -$157 $30,364 59.9% 52%
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Crump
Crump, TN · Public Better Value
-$839 -$2,160 $30,796 62.5% 50%
Southern Regional Technical College
Thomasville, GA · Public Better Value
$813 -$508 $31,293 33.1% 48%
New Mexico State University-Grants
Grants, NM · Public Better Value
$68 -$1,253 $39,067 25.3% 47%
George C Wallace Community College-Dothan
Dothan, AL · Public Better Value
$1,170 -$151 $31,399 31.4% 47%
Wilkes Community College
Wilkesboro, NC · Public Better Value
-$264 -$1,585 $34,728 53.8% 42%
Imperial Valley College
Imperial, CA · Public Better Value
$1,115 -$206 $34,487 45.4% 42%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than Pamlico Community College are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to Pamlico Community College?
We found 13 schools similar to Pamlico Community College that cost less. The closest match is Western Technology Center with 62% similarity and a net price of -$1,072.
What is the ROI of attending Pamlico Community College?
Pamlico Community College has an average net price of $1,321. Former students earn a median of $30,005 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 22.7x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Pamlico Community College for less money?
Yes - 11 of 13 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Coastal Pines Technical College costs -$126 (saving $1,447) with median earnings of $30,214.
What is the cheapest alternative to Pamlico Community College?
The most affordable similar school is Western Technology Center at -$1,072, saving $2,393 compared to Pamlico Community College. It has a 62% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 13 alternatives have an average median earnings of $31,758 compared to Pamlico Community College's $30,005. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.