Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) Introduction and History

Introduction

For students seeking to start their college careers or adults looking to retrain for new career opportunities, Western Piedmont Community College, located in Morganton, N.C., offers a variety of academic and career training options to help students realize their dreams.

Community colleges are becoming a more popular option as the current state of the U.S. economy is pushing more adults to return to school to retrain for new careers and is forcing traditional college-aged students to look for a more affordable option.

Western Piedmont Community College is a large enrollment school, offering a large university feel while retaining the benefits of community college

Information Summary

Ranks 83rd in North Carolina and 2244th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	59.9
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$3,977
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	10 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	62% / 36%
Enrollment Total (all students)	1,779

History

Western Piedmont Community College was chartered by the North Carolina Board of Education in the mid-1960s. The college opened for business in 1966, enrolling about 400 students. In 1973, the college embarked upon a major expansion, building new facilities, including a student center, student activities area, cafeteria and bookstore. Another major expansion in the late 80s added a Learning Resource Center, which contains a library, drama studio and more.

The college opened the Foothills Higher Education Center in Burke County, an area with previously limited access to post-secondary education, in 2009.

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Academics

Western Piedmont Community College offers a variety of academic programs to prepare students for further studies at a four-year school as well as career programs that can quickly prepare students for new careers in a matter of weeks or in two years, depending on the program.

The college offers about 60 career certificate and associate

Most Popular Fields of Study

Admissions

Western Piedmont Community College has an open admissions policy, meaning that any student with a high school diploma or GED will be accepted. However, some WPCC programs have selective admissions—the college

Financial Aid

Students applying to the Western Piedmont Community College are eligible for federal grants and student loans. There are also a number of grants and scholarships offered by the state of North Carolina, the university itself, and other organizations that students may be eligible for. For example, the Western Piedmont Foundation awards $500 scholarships based on financial need to North Carolina residents to attend WPCC.

The college

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 4308th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in North Carolina.

Students

Western Piedmont Community College has a fairly large enrollment of about 10,000 students.

The school offers about 20 clubs and organizations, including professional and academic organizations, religious groups and recreational clubs. The college has a campus newsletter, The Update.

Although WPCC is a rural campus, the college is less than an hour from Charlotte, NC. WPCC has a number of features students can enjoy, including greenhouses, which are part of the college

Student Enrollment Demographics

Athletics

Western Piedmont Community College does not have athletic teams.

Bibliography

“Western Piedmont Community College.” Western Piedmont Community College. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Oct. 2011. <http://www.wpcc.edu/index.php>.
Gonsher, Debra A., and Joshua Halberstam. The community college guide: the essential reference from application to graduation. Dallas, Tex.: BenBella Books, 2009. Print.
The College Board College Handbook, 2010 . 47th ed. New York: College Board, 2009. Print.

Western Piedmont Community College