Pitt Community College ranked top in NC for student success, new study shows

PITT COUNTY, N.C. (WNCT) — The Pitt Community College is getting ready to welcome students back to school with their first day of classes on Friday, and with another year of growth in student enrollment, the college is earning some recognition.

WalletHub ranks Pitt Community College as the 6th best community college out of over 650 across the state and the highest rated community college compared to others across the Eastern N.C. region.

“It’s really living the dream of the founder of the North Carolina Community College system, Dallas Herring, he says he is designing a system to carry students from where they are to where they want to go,” said Dr. Maria Pharr, president of Pitt Community College.

The college is hosting an open enrollment day on Thursday, August 14th, before the first day of class on Friday.

They say it is the perfect time for someone who wants to change their life to take that next step.

“We’re also ranked #1 in the state for our English language acquisition program; we have an 82.5% of what we call measurable gain, which means our students are highly successful in that program, but we’re also #1 in the state for welding,” said Dr. Pharr.

The enrollment for welding is overflowing to the point where the county is donating $16.4 million out of the total $17.7 million cost for their brand new welding facility they are building.

The growing enrollment showcases that PCC is constantly evolving to meet the students with their interests.

“This is why we’re here, one college every student every day,” Dr. Pharr said.

The college is also working with the city of Greenville housing project to bring homes that are built right on PCC’s campus to lots that the city owns to help with housing for those in need.

“Our direct to workforce programming, we have hired an amazing person dr. stacy gerard, this is an opportunity for programs that are short term but direct to workforce, our law enforcement, ems, public safety, fire, cosmotology and all of those short term work force development programs that will get individuals into the college at low cost and get them right into the workforce,” Dr. Pharr.