Carpenter Historic District · Photo: KimWrenn · CC BY-SA 3.0Cary is home to Shepherds Theological Seminary
Shepherds Theological Seminary (110 students on campus) is inside the town. About 6% of Cary’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as North Carolina (6%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Cary. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Cary
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Cary
Seven private colleges within 13.9 miles, two public colleges within 13.9 miles, and two community colleges.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at Over $110k, where Cary’s median household income ($134,905) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Cary: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Miller-Motte College-Raleigh (22).
Questions about college in Cary
Is Cary a college town?
No. About 6 of every 100 Cary residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as North Carolina (6). The largest campus in the town, Shepherds Theological Seminary, has 110 students on campus.
What colleges are in Cary?
Shepherds Theological Seminary is inside the town. Wake Technical Community College is 11.3 miles away in Raleigh.
What is the closest community college to Cary, and what does it cost?
Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, 11.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,254 a year for North Carolina residents; the federal net price, $8,759, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does North Carolina State University at Raleigh cost if we live in North Carolina?
Tuition and fees are $8,799 a year in-state and $32,847 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $6,382 (under $30,000 income) to $24,652 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Cary. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →