About Wake Tech

Wake Tech WOW!

What makes Wake Tech special?

Our students

  • Wake Tech serves more than 72,000 students annually, more than any other North Carolina community college and the second-largest undergraduate enrollment of any college or university in the state.
  • More than 20% of Wake Tech students, many of whom are pursuing non-degree industry certifications, already have a bachelor's degree or advanced degree.
  • Wake Tech serves more online students than any community college in North Carolina.
  • Most Wake Tech degree-seeking students take at least one online class.
  • Wake Tech associate degree graduates who transfer to four-year universities in the UNC System outperform native UNC juniors (2.91 GPA vs. 2.90 GPA).
  • 90% of Wake Tech associate degree graduates are either employed or still enrolled in higher education in North Carolina after one year.
  • Wake Tech has international students from more than 130 countries.
  • 32 of the 60 Goodnight Transfer Scholars at North Carolina State University in 2025 are Wake Tech graduates.

Our college

  • Wake Tech is the largest of North Carolina's 58 community colleges.
  • The college offers more than 250 associate degree, diploma and certificate programs.
  • Nearly 100 fully online associate degree, diploma and certificate programs are available – more than any other community college in the U.S. – and Wake Tech was recognized by Newsweek magazine as one of America's Top Online Colleges in 2025.
  • 100% of Wake Tech programs are transferable for further study.
  • Wake Tech has one of the largest Associate Degree Nursing programs in the region.
  • Wake Tech trains the most first responders in North Carolina.

Our impact

  • Wake Tech ranks among the top 5% of North Carolina colleges in graduate return on investment 10 years after graduation.
  • Wake Tech ranks among the top 20% of colleges and universities nationwide in graduate return on investment 10 years after graduation.
  • Wake Tech's annual economic impact on the community is $1 billion.
  • Three-quarters of Wake Tech's annual impact – more than $700 million – is due to alumni who continue to live and work in Wake County and receive higher earnings after attending Wake Tech.
  • Wake Tech graduates, on average, will earn nearly $10,000 more per year than Wake County residents who have only a high school diploma.
  • For every dollar a student invests in a Wake Tech education, he or she receives a cumulative value of $3.20 in higher future earnings.
  • For every dollar of public money invested in Wake Tech, taxpayers receive a cumulative value of $2.20 over the course of students' working lives.