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Colleges in and near Rocky Mount

Rocky Mount is home to North Carolina Wesleyan University

North Carolina Wesleyan University (922 students on campus) is inside the city. About 7% of Rocky Mount’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 Rocky Mount. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
3
2,179 students on campus
Nearest college
4 mi
North Carolina Wesleyan University
Residents in college
7%
About the same as NC (6%)
Nearest community college
5.1 mi
Nash · $2,866 tuition
Nearest public university
35.1 mi
East Carolina University · $7,361 in-state
Median household income
$56K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Rocky Mount

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

A university in Rocky MountNorth Carolina Wesleyan University has 922 students on campus in Rocky Mount, 42% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 5.1 miles awayNash Community College in Rocky Mount: tuition and fees $2,866 a year for North Carolina residents.In-state price at East Carolina UniversityLiving in North Carolina, East Carolina University charges $7,361 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $23,638. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 7% of residentsAbout the same as North Carolina (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Rocky Mount

One private college within 4 miles, and two community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, East Carolina University, is 35.1 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miNashNorth Carolina Wesleyan UniversityEdgecombeRocky Mount
University or collegeCommunity college
North Carolina Wesleyan UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 922 on campus · In Rocky Mount80%admitted$17knet price42%graduate$46kearningsNash Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,034 on campus · 5.1 mi · Rocky Mount · mostly online$3knet price41%graduate$35kearnings57% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $2,866 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Edgecombe Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 223 on campus · 14.6 mi · Tarboro · mostly online37%graduate$33kearnings78% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.

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 and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Rocky Mount’s median household income ($55,534) falls.

Edgecombe Community College14.6 mi · Tarboro · mostly online · sticker $9,330 · tuition $2,640$0a year
Nash Community College5.1 mi · Rocky Mount · mostly online · sticker $10,062 · tuition $2,866$4,183a year
East Carolina University35.1 mi · Greenville · sticker $23,867$14,904a year
North Carolina Wesleyan UniversityIn Rocky Mount · sticker $49,974$16,017a 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: 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 →North Carolina Wesleyan UniversityNashEdgecombeEast Carolina University
East Carolina University63% graduate$55k earnings$23k typical debt
Nash Community College41% graduate$35k earnings$12k typical debt
North Carolina Wesleyan University42% graduate$46k earnings$25k typical debt
Edgecombe Community College37% graduate$33k earnings$16k 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.

Majors

What students study in Rocky Mount

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at North Carolina Wesleyan University, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 40%Health professions 13%Psychology 9%Computer science 9%Public safety 8%Parks & recreation 7%Everything else 13%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and Operations149 graduates a year
$51k4 yrs out
Psychology, General35 graduates a year
$42k4 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General32 graduates a year
$54k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections31 graduates a year
$44k4 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services26 graduates a year
$53k4 yrs out
Marketing13 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods4 graduates a year
$51k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Rocky Mount

Is Rocky Mount a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 Rocky Mount residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as North Carolina (6). The largest campus in the city, North Carolina Wesleyan University, has 922 students on campus.

What colleges are in Rocky Mount?

North Carolina Wesleyan University is inside the city. Nash Community College is 5.1 miles away in Rocky Mount.

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

Nash Community College in Rocky Mount, 5.1 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,866 a year for North Carolina residents; the federal net price, $3,338, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does East Carolina University cost if we live in North Carolina?

Tuition and fees are $7,361 a year in-state and $23,638 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,046 (under $30,000 income) to $23,028 (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 Rocky Mount. 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 →