Colleges Near Shelby, North Carolina
Looking for information about the best colleges and universities serving Shelby? Here's your guide to the top schools offering degrees to students in the area, including institutions located within 40 miles of Shelby, North Carolina.
There are at least 11 colleges serving the area, including 6 private colleges and universities, 1 public college or university, and 4 community colleges offering 2-year degrees.
The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide provides a breakdown of the colleges serving Shelby, with details about cost, enrollment, student type and degree offerings. Click here to learn more about the guide.
Shelby, North Carolina Colleges by the Numbers
Associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions near Shelby, North Carolina have been declining over the past 5 years. In 2023, students completed 5,115 doctorates at colleges and universities near Shelby. That was a decrease of 3% from completions reported in 2019.
Schools with Degree Completions
Est. Total Completions in 2023
Est. Completions (Last 5 Years)
Sponsored
Top School For Adults & Online Students
Franklin University is a top choice for transfer students, online learners and adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
5,117
Completions By Degree
2,171
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Private Colleges & Universities Offering Degrees Near Shelby, North Carolina
There are at least 6 schools offering degrees near Shelby, North Carolina, and 6 are four-year private colleges or universities where about 10,696 undergraduate students were enrolled. In 2023, a total of 4,354 degrees were completed at private colleges and universities, including 3,148 that were offered online.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Franklin offers more than 50 online bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral programs in the Shelby, North Carolina area. Franklin University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are adults and all programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Franklin University. In 2023, 1,429 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 88 associate degrees, 616 master's degrees, and 38 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
5,117
Completions By Degree
2,171
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Limestone University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Limestone University. In 2023, 395 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 29 associate degrees, 97 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,551
Completions By Degree
521
Est. Online Degree Availability
31%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Gardner-Webb University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and most programs completed were offered online. Master's degrees are the most popular at Gardner-Webb University. In 2023, 452 master's degrees were completed. In addition, 13 associate degrees, 440 bachelor's degrees, and 119 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,811
Completions By Degree
1,024
Est. Online Degree Availability
69%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Converse University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Converse University. In 2023, 139 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 87 master's degrees, and 16 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
804
Completions By Degree
242
Est. Online Degree Availability
1%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Belmont Abbey College is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and some programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Belmont Abbey College. In 2023, 288 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 11 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,413
Completions By Degree
299
Est. Online Degree Availability
35%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Sherman College of Chiropractic is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Doctoral degrees are the most popular at Sherman College of Chiropractic. In 2023, 97 doctoral degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, 0 master's degrees, were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
0
Completions By Degree
97
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Public Colleges & Universities Near Shelby, North Carolina
There is 1 four-year public college located near Shelby, North Carolina. About 4,046 students were enrolled in undergraduate programs, and about 1,173 degrees were completed at public colleges near Shelby. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
University of South Carolina-Upstate is an institutionally accredited public 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and some programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at University of South Carolina-Upstate. In 2023, 1,064 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 109 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,046
Completions By Degree
1,173
Est. Online Degree Availability
42%
Completions by Program Area
Community Colleges Near Shelby, North Carolina
There are 4 community colleges near Shelby, North Carolina where students can earn 2-year associate degrees. In 2023, about 6,998 students were enrolled in undergraduate courses at community colleges near Shelby, and about 1,759 associate degrees were completed.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Isothermal Community College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and some programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,118
Completions By Degree
356
Est. Online Degree Availability
65%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Western Piedmont Community College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,280
Completions By Degree
287
Est. Online Degree Availability
5%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Cleveland Community College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,372
Completions By Degree
376
Est. Online Degree Availability
9%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Gaston College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and most programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
3,228
Completions By Degree
740
Est. Online Degree Availability
76%
Completions by Program Area
Affordable Colleges Near Shelby, North Carolina
Wondering what you can expect to pay for a degree near Shelby, North Carolina? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average tuition at Shelby-area's 4-year nonprofit schools is $22,625. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit schools near Shelby is N/A, while tuition at 2-year online colleges and universities is N/A.
4-Year Nonprofit
4-Year For-Profit
2-Year
Accredited Colleges Serving Shelby, North Carolina
Earning a college degree is an investment — and earning a degree from an institutionally accredited university is one of the best ways to ensure your education is of high quality. Institutionally accredited universities are held to rigorous standards by state and regional bodies and undergo regular reviews to verify that their processes and academic programs meet the proper standards.
Wondering if a certain college or university offering degree programs in Shelby, North Carolina is institutionally accredited? View a list of institutionally accredited colleges and universities serving Shelby, North Carolina here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
- Franklin University
- Belmont Abbey College
- Gardner-Webb University
- Converse University
- Limestone University
- Sherman College of Chiropractic
- Isothermal Community College
- Western Piedmont Community College
- Cleveland Community College
- Gaston College
Shelby, North Carolina Job Market & Opportunities
What happens after you earn your college degree in Shelby? What's the Shelby, North Carolina job market outlook? Get a snapshot of jobs and careers, including annual job openings, median earnings and more.
In 2023, there were about 461,205 jobs in the Shelby, North Carolina area. From 2022-2023, job growth in Shelby was below the national average, at 2%. There were 60,733 job openings in the area. In terms of earnings, workers in Shelby do worse than the national average, with an average hourly pay of $19.