Tuition and Fees

Quick Reference:

Tuition
Fees
Refund Policy
Sponsored Programs
Student Insurance

Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice.

NOTE: Registration automatically is canceled if payment is not made by the published due dates for tuition and required fees.

Cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards (MasterCard, American Express, Visa or Discover Card) are accepted.

Tuition

Tuition is set by the North Carolina State Legislature and is subject to change without notice. Tuition rates are the same for in-person, hybrid (courses that meet in person and online), and online courses.

Curriculum Courses

Tuition Rates for In-State Students

Fewer than 16 credit hours: $76 per credit hour
16 credit hours or more: $1,216 per semester

Tuition Rates for Out-of-State Students

Fewer than 16 credit hours: $268 per credit hour
16 credit hours or more: $4,288 per semester

Corporate and Continuing Education

Tuition and fees are published per class

High School Diploma or High School Equivalency Courses

No tuition or fees

North Carolina Residence Status

For students enrolling in college credit curriculum classes, an initial residence classification is made by Residency Determination Services (RDS) upon application to the college. It is the student’s responsibility to supply documenting evidence of residence status if requested and to inform Central Piedmont of any changes in residency determination before the end of the impacted term. The decision is based on the preponderance of the evidence presented.

NOTE: The out-of-state tuition rate is charged automatically to students for whom North Carolina residence has not been established.

The information provided here is not intended to be comprehensive. The residence policy is based on North Carolina General Statute 116-143.1. More information can be located at ncresidency.org.

Fees

Fees are approved by the Central Piedmont Board of Trustees in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 115D-5 and the State Board of Community Colleges. All fees are subject to change.

Campus Access Parking and Security (CAPS) Fee

The Campus Access, Parking and Security Fee is charged to students who attend classes and/or labs at any college campus. Revenues collected from this fee are used to pay costs associated with campus security and parking lot rental and maintenance at all Central Piedmont campuses and centers.

$73 per semester for curriculum students enrolled in eight credit hours or less
$97 per semester for curriculum students enrolled in nine credit hours or more
$12 per class for Corporate and Continuing Education students

Lab Fees

Lab fees are used to provide supplies and equipment in the respective programs. The term 'lab hours' includes both lab and clinical hours.

Curriculum Lab Fees: $27 per lab hour with $216 maximum per semester
Corporate and Continuing Education Lab Fees: $27 per occupational extension lab with $216 maximum per semester

Student Publications/Activity Fee

The Student Publications/Activity Fee is used to support the Student Life Center and many co-curricular and extra-curricular programs. Among these are student government, student publications, clubs and organizations, intramural sports, educational activities, speakers and entertainers.

$26 per semester for curriculum students enrolled in eight credit hours or less
$35 per semester for curriculum students enrolled in nine credit hours or more

Technology Fees

A technology fee of $48 is charged per term for college credit curriculum classes
A technology fee of $5 per course is charged for occupational extension classes

Included Course Material Fees

The Included Course Material (ICM) program makes digital and printed course materials available to all students in college credit classes. The program ensures that the course materials students need will be available on the first day of class. The fee is included with tuition and fees charged upon registration and can be included in upfront costs for financial aid and tuition payment plans. Students have an option to opt-out if desired. More information and current pricing can be found on the Included Course Materials webpage. 

Additional Course Specific Fees

  • Applied Music - A fee of $200 is charged for applied music classes for materials and supplies.
  • Forensics - A fee of $50 per class is charged for forensics courses for materials and supplies.
  • Mechatronics - A Mechatronics certification fee of $50 is charged to specific courses to cover the cost of the certification exam, which also serves as the students’ final exams.  
  • Cardiovascular Technology - The Cardiovascular Technology Non-Invasive tract program fee is charged to specific courses and covers the cost of a required badge for students. The radiation badge is worn by faculty and students while in the clinical setting to monitor any inadvertent exposure the instructor or student may have had to radiation. Monitoring exposure will provide an opportunity to limit exposure, if necessary.
  • Surgical Technology - The Surgical Technology test is covered by this fee charged to Professional Success Preparation courses (SUR-137).
  • Sign Language  - The fee covers the cost for the Sign Language Proficiency Interview exam.

GED and High School Equivalency Tests

The GED (General Educational Development) Test consists of four sub-tests for $104 or $26 per sub-test

The HiSET (High School Equivalency Test) contains five sub-tests for $75 or $15 per sub-test

Refund Policy

The North Carolina Community College System establishes the refund policy which is subject to change.

Refunds for College Credit Curriculum Courses

  • A 100% tuition refund is paid by the college to students who officially withdraw from class prior to the first day of the academic term.
  • A 75% tuition refund is paid by the college to students who officially withdraw from class on or after the first day of the term through the 10% point of the term.
  • Fees are non-refundable for curriculum courses, unless the course is canceled by the college or dropped before the first day of the academic semester. Fees are not refunded after the term begins, including during the 75% refund period. This policy applies to all student fees, including but not limited to student activity fees, lab fees, technology fees, CAPS fees, student insurance, and Included Course Materials unless the student has opted out of the program for the semester. 
  • Students can opt out of the Included Course Materials program prior to the 10% point of the semester. Please note that the program is “all in” or “all out” for the semester, and students cannot opt out of individual courses. Students who opt out of the program are also responsible for obtaining access to the course materials and for completion of all work assigned by the instructor of each class.
  • All curriculum student refunds are issued to students' BankMobile accounts or to the credit card used for the original tuition payment. During BankMobile activation, students may opt to receive refunds by electronic deposit to a personal bank account or through BankMobile's Vibe account.

Refunds for Corporate and Continuing Education - Occupational Extension Courses

  • A 100% tuition refund is paid by the college to students who officially withdraw from class prior to the first day of the class.
  • A 75% tuition refund is paid by the college to student who officially withdraw from class on or after the first day of the class through the 10% point of the class.
  • Fees are non-refundable for Corporate and Continuing Education courses, unless the course is canceled by the college or dropped before the first day of the academic semester. Fees are not refunded after the term begins, including during the 75% refund period. This policy applies to all student fees, including lab fees, technology fees, CAPS fees, and student insurance. 
  • All Corporate and Continuing Education refunds are issued by check or to the credit card used for the original tuition payment.

Refunds for Corporate and Continuing Education - Self-Supporting Courses

  • A 100% refund is paid by the college to students who officially withdraw from class prior to the first day of the class.
  • Fees are non-refundable for Corporate and Continuing Education courses, unless the course is canceled by the college or dropped before the first day of the academic semester. 
  • All Corporate and Continuing Education refunds are issued by check or to the credit card used for tuition payment.

Returned Check Policy

All returned checks are subject to a processing fee of $25. This fee also applies to credit card payments not accepted and returned by a financial institution. This fee, along with the original amount of the check or credit card, is due within five (5) business days after official notification from the college. These amounts are payable only by cash or money order at the Business Office on any campus. A hold is placed on all student records until acceptable payment is received.

Cancellations / No Shows

The college reserves the right to cancel classes at any time without prior notice. Tuition is refunded 100 percent for any class canceled by the college.

Students who do not drop courses and/or do not attend are still responsible for payment.

Sponsored Programs

Third-party billing arrangements for curriculum courses are handled by the Sponsored Programs office. Sponsored students should ensure that the third-party organization submits a letter or authorization to bill before any applicable deadlines. Documentation may be submitted directly to the Sponsored Programs office or to the Business Office on any Central Piedmont campus. For further information and specific requirements, visit the Sponsored Programs webpage or contact the Sponsored Programs office at 704.330.4262 or SponsoredPrograms@cpcc.edu.

Third party billing arrangements for Corporate and Continuing Education are handled by the CCE Accounting department. For more information, call 704.330.4647 or email CCEaccounting@cpcc.edu

Student Insurance

Insurance information is available on the Student Insurance webpage.

  • Student Accident Insurance is required for specific classes and is billed at the time of registration. The plan insures students against loss resulting from accidental bodily injury sustained while participating in or attending specific classes. For more information, visit the student insurance webpage or contact the Office of Enterprise Risk Management at 704.330.6684

  • The voluntary student health plan offers several benefit options, depending on the needs of the student. Premiums vary per term or year, depending on the selected coverage and payment schedule. Plans are a direct relationship between the student and the insurance provider and are not endorsed by or affiliated with Central Piedmont Community College, the State Board of Community Colleges, or the North Carolina Community College System Office. Qualified students may contact the insurance provider through the student insurance webpage. The plan provider is responsible for enrollment, eligibility verification, and premium collection for the plan.