Contact Tameka Kenan-Norman
Executive Director of Public Information and Institutional Advancement
Edgecombe Community College
2009 W. Wilson St.
Tarboro, NC 27886
(252) 618-6560
kenannormant@edgecombe.edu

ECC named one of the best vocational schools in the U.S. 

Edgecombe Community College was among just 14 community colleges in North Carolina named as one of the top vocational schools across the U.S. According to usatoday.com, “the rankings were developed by Statista in collaboration with USA Today. Schools were judged on five primary metrics: graduation rate, graduates’ salary, years it takes to pay off net costs, social mobility and diversity.”

The schools were ranked using a star system, with five being the highest. ECC was one of seven schools in the state to receive a five-star score.

ECC’s short-term workforce and customized training programs are a reason for this ranking.  There are a variety of programs enabling students to get their credentials in a year or less, such as forklift training, the notary public education course, welding and real estate pre-licensing, construction, collision repair, natural hair care, nail technology and more. In many cases, students have begun taking more than one course, or stacking credentials, to make them more attractive to potential employers.

For more information on the ranking in USA Today, visit https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/07/21/top-vocational-schools-in-us-ranked-2025/84497925007/. For more information on ECC’s short-term training programs, visit https://edgecombe.edu/continuing-education/short-term-training-for-careers/.