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Colleges in and near Matthews

Queens University of Charlotte is 8.5 miles from Matthews

No college sits inside Matthews’ boundary, but Queens University of Charlotte’s campus in Charlotte, with 1,509 students on campus, is 8.5 miles from the center of town, and Central Piedmont Community College is 9.6 miles away in Charlotte. About 4% of Matthews’ residents are enrolled in college, below 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 Matthews. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
8
43,819 students on campus
Nearest college
8.5 mi
Queens University of Charlotte
Residents in college
4%
Below NC (6%)
Nearest community college
9.6 mi
Central Piedmont · $2,792 tuition
Nearest public university
12.9 mi
University of North Carolina at Charlotte · $7,239 in-state
Median household income
$109K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Matthews

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A university 8.5 miles awayQueens University of Charlotte has 1,509 students on campus in Charlotte, 61% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 9.6 miles awayCentral Piedmont Community College in Charlotte: tuition and fees $2,792 a year for North Carolina residents.In-state price at University of North Carolina at CharlotteLiving in North Carolina, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte charges $7,239 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $22,492. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 4% of residentsBelow North Carolina (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Matthews

Five private colleges within 12.6 miles, two public colleges within 13 miles, and Central Piedmont Community College 9.6 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of North Carolina at CharlotteCentral PiedmontQueens University of CharlotteMatthews
University or collegeCommunity college
Queens University of CharlotteUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,509 on campus · 8.5 mi · Charlotte62%admitted$31knet price61%graduate$58kearningsCentral Piedmont Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 12,139 on campus · 9.6 mi · Charlotte$3knet price31%graduate$38kearningsTuition and fees: $2,792 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Southeastern College-CharlotteUniversity or college · For-profit · 216 on campus · 10.7 mi · Charlotte94%admitted$31knet price77%graduate$32kearningsJohnson & Wales University-CharlotteUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,120 on campus · 11.2 mi · Charlotte80%admitted$27knet price49%graduate$43kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Johnson C Smith UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 983 on campus · 11.9 mi · Charlotte45%admitted$21knet price34%graduate$43kearningsChamberlain University-North CarolinaUniversity or college · For-profit · 183 on campus · 12.6 mi · Charlotte100%admitted$38knet price$92kearningsEarnings are reported for all 15 campuses that file with it.University of North Carolina at CharlotteUniversity or college · Public · 27,318 on campus · 12.9 mi · Charlotte80%admitted$15knet price69%graduate$57kearningsCarolinas College of Health SciencesUniversity or college · Public · 351 on campus · 13 mi · Charlotte60%admitted100%graduate$65kearnings

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 it costs

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.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Matthews’ median household income ($108,611) falls.

Central Piedmont Community College9.6 mi · Charlotte · sticker $10,546 · tuition $2,792$8,010a year
Johnson C Smith University11.9 mi · Charlotte · sticker $34,923$19,722a year
University of North Carolina at Charlotte12.9 mi · Charlotte · sticker $23,010$19,822a year
Southeastern College-Charlotte10.7 mi · Charlotte · sticker $38,136$29,567a year
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte11.2 mi · Charlotte · sticker $58,022$30,117a year
Queens University of Charlotte8.5 mi · Charlotte · sticker $65,742$30,159a year
Chamberlain University-North Carolina12.6 mi · Charlotte · sticker $42,634—a year

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.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Matthews: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Queens University of CharlotteCentral PiedmontJohnson & Wales University-CharlotteJohnson C Smith UniversityUniversity of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte69% graduate$57k earnings$22k typical debt
Central Piedmont Community College31% graduate$38k earnings$8k typical debt
Queens University of Charlotte61% graduate$58k earnings$25k typical debt
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte49% graduate$43k earnings*$26k typical debt
Johnson C Smith University34% graduate$43k earnings$30k typical debt
Carolinas College of Health Sciences100% graduate$65k earnings$15k typical debt
Southeastern College-Charlotte77% graduate$32k earnings$10k typical debt

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: Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte (3).

Questions about college near Matthews

Is Matthews a college town?

No. About 4 of every 100 Matthews residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below North Carolina (6). The nearest campus, Queens University of Charlotte, is 8.5 miles away in Charlotte.

What colleges are near Matthews?

8 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (12.9 miles, 27,318 students on campus), Central Piedmont Community College (9.6 miles, 12,139) and Queens University of Charlotte (8.5 miles, 1,509).

What is the closest community college to Matthews, and what does it cost?

Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, 9.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,792 a year for North Carolina residents; the federal net price, $3,345, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of North Carolina at Charlotte cost if we live in North Carolina?

Tuition and fees are $7,239 a year in-state and $22,492 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,357 (under $30,000 income) to $21,761 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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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 Matthews. 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 →