quality of life | education
E D U C AT I O N There is an extensive network of universities, colleges and community colleges in the Charlotte region that serves individual education and business training needs. Influenced by the business culture of Charlotte, these schools incorporate practical training and experience into the curriculum, while encouraging students to improve themselves and contribute to our society. The universities and colleges have developed a partnership with their surrounding businesses and industries to provide knowledgeable and conscientious leadership to the community. There are 35 colleges and universities to choose from in the Charlotte region, covering a wide range of educational opportunities. From premier private liberal arts colleges such as Davidson, to public urban institutes, such as Central Piedmont Community College, the Charlotte region welcomes students of all ages, nationalities and educational backgrounds. There are schools that offer technical training and schools that prepare health professionals for the challenges they will face in these booming and rapidly-changing industries. In addition to preparing more qualified individuals for the public and private sectors, these schools perform much needed research in evolving fields. The largest university in the Charlotte area is the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. With its current enrollment of more than 18,000 students, UNC Charlotte houses seven different colleges, from arts and sciences to engineering. The Charlotte region also encompasses a branch of the University of South Carolina at Lancaster, which brings benefits of the state’s flagship school to the rural communities of its northern territory. Central Piedmont Community College, North Carolina’s largest community college, teaches technical, college-transfer and professional-development classes at six campuses. Beyond baccalaureate degrees, schools in the Charlotte region offer graduate programs for professionals seeking masters or doctorates in fields ranging from information technology to chemistry. Several business 52
tality school opened an uptown campus in 2004 to assist the service industry in reaching even higher standards. Colleges and universities contribute to CharlotteUSA’s economic health by attracting talented individuals to the region and guaranteeing more qualified professionals in the workplace.
programs have sprung up to cater to Charlotte’s corporate sector. Pfeiffer University, Lenoir-Rhyne College and Winthrop University are among the many schools offering MBA programs. Charlotte’s newest addition, DeVry, also offers an MBA. Providing an example of the ties that bind academia to commerce in Charlotte, the McColl School of Business at Queens University created a mentoring program to link graduate students to corporate leaders in the community. Wake Forest’s Babcock Graduate School of Management, which Forbes recently recognized as #28 on its list of best U.S. business schools, opened a Charlotte campus. Now, more than ever before, North Carolina’s business leaders don’t have to travel far to enhance their education. Whatever the education needs, it is a likely chance that students will find what they are looking for in the Charlotte region. As the city continues to grow, so do its educational opportunities. Johnson & Wales, a prominent business, culinary arts and hospi-
Educational Resources • Extensive regional educational system includes over 300,000 students enrolled from kindergarten through twelfth grade. • Language immersion and specialty programs available from kindergarten through twelfth grade. • French • Spanish • German • International Baccalaureate • Japanese • Global Studies • Home to 35 colleges and universities, offering degrees in 150 different subjects, as well as 50 different graduate programs in: • Business Administration • Chemistry • Precision Engineering • Personnel/Industrial Relations • Mechanical Engineering • Electrical Engineering College and Universities in the Region Barber-Scotia College Belmont Abbey College Carolinas College of Health Sciences Catawba College Catawba Valley Community College Central Piedmont Community College Cleveland Community College Clinton College Davidson College !
Charlotte Region Work Force Education Number
% Total Work Force
1,505,225
-
Less Than High School, No Diploma
327,404
21.75%
High School Graduate
421,559
28.01%
College, No Diploma
312,883
20.79%
Associate Degree
101,695
6.76%
Bachelors Degree
245,111
16.28%
96,573
6.42%
Population Age 25+
Graduate or Professional Degree Source: Applied Geographic Solutions, 2004 Estimates
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