Since its founding in 1967, Edgecombe Community College has been committed to fulfilling the education, training, and cultural needs of the Edgecombe County community and surrounding areas.
With campuses in Tarboro and Rocky Mount and classes online, the college serves about 5,500 individuals annually in its two-year degree, diploma, certificate, and continuing education programs. Excellent teaching and learning coupled with student achievement have characterized ECC throughout its history.
In August 2025, Edgecombe Community College placed third in in SmartAssetâs 2025 analysis of the Best Community Colleges across the United States. SmartAsset, the online site for financial information and advice, evaluated 585 two-year schools offering associateâs degrees with at least 500 full-time students.
Smartasset.com highlights that in-state tuition and fees for two semesters at ECC is only $2,640. The collegeâs student retention rate of 84 percent is the highest mark among all of the NC colleges, and ranks in the top 1 percent for all colleges in the study. ECCâs low student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1 also contributed to its lofty ranking. Here are some other successes from 2025.
2025 Successes
Rankings
- Edgecombe Community College was among 14 community colleges in North Carolina named as one of the top vocational schools across the U.S. according to Statista and USA Today. Schools were judged on graduation rate, graduatesâ salary, years it takes to pay off net costs, social mobility and diversity.
- In a WalletHub ranking, ECC placed #7 among North Carolinaâs best community colleges. ECCâs ranking was based on a comparison of 18 key factors of cost and quality, including financing, student-to-teacher ratio, graduation rate and career outcomes.
Transfer pathways
Edgecombe Community College signed a bilateral agreement with East Carolina University. The agreement will enable ECC students to finish their Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Geospatial Technology-Geographic Information Science, and complete their BS in either Geographic Information Science and Technology or in Geography at ECU.
Graduations
- Patrick Heins, president of ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital, served as the keynote speaker for ECCâs Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony. A total of 483 students received degrees, diplomas and certificates. Fifty of those students were recognized for completing Adult High School Equivalency and Adult High School diplomas.
- The graduates of Edgecombe Community Collegeâs 15th Basic Academy for Basic Law Enforcement Training earned a significant achievement and set an unprecedented mark. Of the 36 cadets who began the academy, 32 graduated from the program. They were recognized as the largest-ever graduating class from the college, exceeding the previous record by 11.
Student Accomplishments
- ECC students excelled at the SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference held in Greensboro, N.C. At 55 students, its largest number of participants ever, the SkillsUSA team took home 17 awards across a number of trade, technical and skilled service fields. The conference is a showcase of career and technical education students.
- ECCâs SkillsUSA competitors won a gold medal and two silver medals after participating in the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference held in Atlanta, Ga.
- Eight new members were inducted into Edgecombe Community Collegeâs Alpha Omega Nu Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa in the spring, and 21 were inducted in the fall. Â Phi Theta Kappa is an honor society for students attending two-year schools.
New Student Spaces
- Edgecombe Community College transformed a classroom space in the Charles S. McIntyre Building on the Tarboro campus into a room for Esports. It is equipped with 42-inch televisions, Sony Interactive Entertainment PlayStation 5 video game consoles, a Nintendo Switch, Xbox, window tinting, noise reduction barriers, as well as gaming center computers, tables and chairs. Additionally, the Esports program started in the fall to provide an opportunity for team building and to prepare participants for jobs in web development, general management, marketing and more.
- ECCâs Academic Success Center is now in the McIntyre Building on the Tarboro campus. The center supports the academic success of students outside the classroom, ranging from free tutoring and navigation services that provide guidance with online platforms for registration, to test proctoring and more.
- The collegeâs former mailroom has been transformed into a Wellness Center. The multifunctional full-body workout gym is equipped with treadmills, stationary bikes, an elliptical trainer, a multi-station weight set, yoga mats, an ab roller and more.
- ECC hosted a ribbon cutting for its newly renovated student lounge located in the Barnes Building on the Rocky Mount campus.
Fundraising
- The Rocky Mount Rotary Club presented a check for $40,000 to ECC during the clubâs annual Tackle the Tar Celebration. Rotary leaders awarded $120,000 to support local students attending ECC, Nash Community College and NC Wesleyan University. The funds were raised through the Rocky Mount Rotary Club sponsored event, Tackle the Tar, an annual 5K obstacle course race.
- The 39th annual golf tournament hosted by the ECC Foundation, raised $36,472 to support student scholarships and Foundation operations. The tournament was held Sept. 25 at Maccripine Country Club in Pinetops. Thirty-seven teams participated, and 148 players were featured in the tournament.
- The Calvin Davenport Skills and Trades Scholarship, named in memory of Gaile Taylorâs father, will provide $30,000 to support students pursuing a degree, diploma or certificate in programs such as welding, small engine repair, construction academy, automotive, collision repair, cosmetology, plumbing, HVAC-air conditioning and agribusiness. Successful scholars may also receive a set of tools tailored to their trade upon completion of their program.
