College costs can make higher education difficult to afford. For students comparing lower-cost options in North Carolina, public community colleges can be a practical place to begin.
This article highlights ten public community colleges in North Carolina. It is not a ranking. The latest system-wide tuition memo available at the time of this update lists 2025–26 curriculum tuition at $76 per credit hour for North Carolina residents, up to $1,216 per semester, and $268 per credit hour for nonresidents, up to $4,288 per semester. College-specific fees, books, supplies, housing, health insurance, and other expenses may increase the total cost.
International applicants should verify each college’s admissions rules before applying. A nonresident tuition rate does not necessarily mean that a college admits new F-1 students or issues Form I-20. Applicants should also confirm which programs are available to students with their immigration status.
Affordable Colleges in North Carolina for International Students
1. Forsyth Technical Community College
Forsyth Technical Community College is in Winston-Salem and serves more than 22,000 students across more than 200 programs. Classes are offered in person at nine campuses, with some online and hybrid options.
Forsyth Tech has a published F-1 admissions process and states that it is authorized to issue Form I-20 to students who meet its international admissions requirements.
2. Pitt Community College
Pitt Community College is based in Winterville. It was chartered in March 1961 and began as the Pitt Industrial Education Center. The college adopted its current name in 1979, when two-year university transfer programs were added.
Pitt offers programs in areas including arts and sciences; business, technology, and law; construction and industrial technology; health sciences; teaching and learning; and continuing education.
Pitt publishes application information for F-1 students. Its current non-U.S. citizen applicant guide states that F-1 students are considered nonresidents for tuition purposes and are currently eligible only for transfer programs: Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, and Associate in Engineering.
3. Durham Technical Community College
- Admissions | Tuition Fees | Scholarships | F-1 Students
- Curriculum Tuition: $76/credit hour (in-state) | $268/credit hour (out-of-state/nonresident), with semester maximums of $1,216 and $4,288, respectively. Additional college-specific fees may apply.
Founded in 1961, Durham Technical Community College serves more than 18,000 students annually across seven campuses in Durham and Orange counties. It offers more than 90 associate degree and certificate programs for university transfer or immediate employment.
Durham Tech organizes its offerings into seven Guided Career Pathways. Students should review the tuition page for administrative fees in addition to state-set tuition.
Durham Tech publishes enrollment steps for students applying from abroad for an F-1 visa, students transferring with an active I-20, and students seeking a change of status to F-1.
4. Cleveland Community College
Cleveland Community College began in 1965 as the Cleveland Unit of Gaston College and became a standalone entity in 1967 as Cleveland County Technical Institute. It moved to its current location in 1969.
The college offers associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, continuing education, and selected fully online degrees in Arts, Science, Information Technology, and Cyber Security.
Cleveland Community College states that it is authorized to enroll students with F-1 visas. It also states that F-1 students must pay out-of-state tuition and are not eligible for scholarships or financial assistance.
5. Richmond Community College
Richmond Community College serves students in Hamlet and Laurinburg. Its curriculum credit courses lead to certificates, diplomas, and degrees, and many courses can transfer to colleges and universities.
Richmond Community College also offers the RichmondCC Guarantee, but free tuition is not automatic. The college states that eligible students must remain legal residents of Richmond or Scotland County, meet dual-enrollment and GPA requirements, complete the FAFSA and the RichmondCC General Scholarship application, and complete a Guarantee Career Plan with an advisor. Students should review the official Guarantee page for the full conditions.
Richmond Community College publishes information for international students and a current I-20 request form for applicants seeking an F-1 visa or transferring from another institution.
North Carolina’s public community college system has 58 colleges across all 100 counties. Because curriculum tuition is generally set at the system level, students should compare program availability, admissions rules, college-specific fees, and financial aid eligibility rather than relying only on the per-credit tuition rate. International students should confirm F-1 and Form I-20 policies directly with each college before applying.
We hope this article on affordable colleges in North Carolina was helpful! Make sure also to check out our Study in the USA page and the Available Programs for International Students page for more learning opportunities in the United States.
