| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Public two-year community college in the North Carolina Community College System; campus-based |
| Campuses | 3 in North Carolina: Rutherford Campus in Spindale (main), Rutherfordton Learning Center (nursing) and Polk Campus in Columbus (continuing education) |
| Credentials | Associate degrees (AAS, plus AA, AS and AE transfer degrees), diplomas and certificates; continuing-education courses such as EMT and paramedic |
| Programs | 43 program areas |
| Accreditation | The Commission on Colleges and Universities, the new name of SACSCOC since 1 Sep 2026; next review listed for December 2031 |
| Federal aid | Yes, for eligible programs (the Basic Plumbing certificate is not aid-eligible) |
| 2026-27 tuition | $76 per credit for NC residents (up to $1,216 a semester); $268 for non-residents (up to $4,288) |
| Students | 1,918 undergraduates in fall 2024, 36% full-time; student-faculty ratio 11 to 1 |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
ICC: the public two-year college for Rutherford and Polk counties
Isothermal Community College, known as ICC, is one of the 58 public colleges in the North Carolina Community College System. Founded in 1964 and named for the region’s steady “isothermal belt” climate, it serves Rutherford and Polk counties from its main campus in Spindale, a nursing center in Rutherfordton and a continuing-education campus in Columbus. Tuition is set by the state and is the same at every North Carolina community college.
The college lists 43 program areas, most of them career programs in health care, trades, manufacturing, business and early childhood, alongside university transfer degrees. Dental Hygiene, launched in 2025, gained initial accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation in January 2025. The WNCW public radio station is based on the Spindale campus. Fall 2024 enrollment was 1,918 undergraduates, 64% of them part-time.
Programs at ICC and where they are taught
ICC awards associate degrees (AAS), diplomas and certificates under North Carolina’s standard program codes. The table shows the main career programs. Program pages rarely say which campus teaches a program; the college places nursing at the Rutherfordton Learning Center and most other credit programs on the Spindale campus. Where the site for Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting is not stated, ask the college.
| Program | Credential | Format | Where | Prepares for / approval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree Nursing | AAS, 71 credits minimum; LPN-to-ADN and RIBN options | Daytime, web-assisted | Rutherfordton Learning Center | NCLEX-RN |
| Practical Nursing | Diploma | Two class days and two clinical days a week | Rutherfordton Learning Center | NCLEX-PN |
| Dental Hygiene | AAS | Limited entry | Confirm with the college | CODA initial accreditation (2025) |
| Dental Assisting | Diploma | Limited entry | Confirm with the college | Not CODA-accredited (seeking accreditation) |
| Paramedic | Continuing education; Emergency Medical Science AAS | – | Ask the college | National Registry or state paramedic exam; CAAHEP-accredited |
| EMT | Continuing education | – | Ask the college | NC Office of EMS and National Registry EMT |
| Cosmetology | AAS; certificate | – | Spindale | NC Board of Cosmetic Arts exam |
| Manicuring/Nail Technology | Certificate | – | Spindale | NC Board of Cosmetic Arts approval |
| Welding Technology | AAS; diploma; certificates (SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, advanced, inspection) | – | Spindale | AWS certification tests, per the college |
| Electrical Systems Technology | AAS; diploma; Electrical Wiring and Industrial Controls certificates | – | Spindale | No exam named |
| Computer-Integrated Machining | AAS; diploma; Machining, CNC and motorsports certificates | – | Spindale | – |
| Building Construction Technology | AAS; diploma; carpentry, plumbing and HVAC certificates | – | Spindale | – |
| Basic Plumbing | Certificate, 17 credits | Not fully online; not aid-eligible | Spindale | – |
| Mechatronics Engineering Technology | AAS; certificates incl. Industrial Cybersecurity | – | Spindale | – |
| Medical Office Administration | AAS (three tracks); diploma; certificates | – | Spindale | – |
| Early Childhood Education | AAS (three tracks); diploma; certificates | – | Spindale | – |
| Basic Law Enforcement Training | Certificate | – | Spindale | Approved by the NC Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission |
Engineering-minded students should note the difference between ICC’s two kinds of engineering degree. The Associate in Engineering is a university transfer degree, while Electronics, Mechanical and Computer Engineering Technology are career AAS degrees for technician jobs, alongside Computer-Aided Drafting Technology. Audio and Video Production Technology, formerly Broadcasting and Production, is linked to WNCW. ICC has no medical assistant program and no music credential.
What the main programs cover
Associate Degree Nursing
The ADN is a daytime, web-assisted program of at least 71 credit hours, taught at the Rutherfordton Learning Center and not available fully online. Clinicals are spread across Rutherford, Polk, Burke, Cleveland, Henderson and McDowell counties in North Carolina, and may include Cherokee and Spartanburg counties in South Carolina, so students need transport. Licensed practical nurses can enter through the LPN-to-ADN option, and a RIBN option (A45110RB) is also offered. Graduates take the NCLEX-RN.
Practical Nursing
The Practical Nursing diploma is limited-entry. Applicants begin in Pre-Health Sciences and must already be listed on the North Carolina Nurse Aide Registry. Once in the program, students attend two class days and two clinical days a week, mostly in the mornings, though labs and clinicals can run into the late afternoon. NUR 103 is taught as a nine-week summer course. Clinical sites require a background check and drug screen. Graduates take the NCLEX-PN.
Paramedic and Emergency Medical Science
Emergency medical training runs on two tracks. The continuing-education route starts with an EMT course leading to North Carolina Office of EMS and National Registry certification and is separate from the paramedic program, which is accredited by CAAHEP on the recommendation of CoAEMSP. The college graduated 30 paramedics and EMTs in December 2025 and 16 EMTs in May 2026. Students who want a degree can take the Emergency Medical Science AAS, an EMS Bridge option or a General Occupational Technology route in emergency medical science.
Welding Technology
Welding is offered as an AAS, a diploma and a Welding Technology certificate, with shorter certificates built around single processes: shielded metal arc (SMAW, or stick), gas metal arc (GMAW, or MIG) and gas tungsten arc (GTAW, or TIG). Advanced Welding and Advanced Welding & Inspection Processes certificates take students further, the second toward inspection and testing work. The college says graduates should be able to handle American Welding Society certification. All of these welding awards are taught at the Spindale campus.
Building Construction and Basic Plumbing
Building Construction Technology is an AAS and diploma with four short certificates, each focused on one trade: Basic Carpentry, Advanced Carpentry, Basic Plumbing and Basic HVAC. Basic Plumbing needs at least 17 credit hours, cannot be completed fully online and is not eligible for financial aid, so students pay for it themselves. It is an introduction within the construction program, not a full plumbing degree. The diploma and associate degree cover building construction more broadly, and all of these awards are taught at the Spindale campus.
Tuition and fees for 2026-27
North Carolina sets community college tuition by law, so ICC charges the statewide rates, and there is no separate in-county rate. The state kept resident tuition at $76 per credit for 2026-27.
| Item | Amount | Date and source |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, NC residents | $76 per credit, up to $1,216 a semester (16 or more credits) | 2026-27, NCCCS memo CC26-027 (1 Jul 2026) |
| Tuition, non-residents | $268 per credit, up to $4,288 a semester | 2026-27, same memo |
| Student activity fee | $51.35 (fall and spring) | College catalog (rates “subject to change effective July 1, 2025”); 2026-27 fees not confirmed |
| Technology fee | $48 | Same |
| College access, parking and security fee | $25 | Same |
| Tuition and fees for a full-time year | $2,030 in-state, $6,638 out-of-state | 2025-26, College Navigator |
The fee amounts come from the college catalog, which dates them to 2025; check the college’s tuition page for the current figures. ICC takes federal student aid and has a net price calculator. The tuition figures above are for credit programs; ask the college what continuing-education courses such as EMT and paramedic cost.
Open admission, with limited entry for health programs
ICC admits applicants to the college openly. Associate Degree Nursing, Practical Nursing, the dental programs and Basic Law Enforcement Training are selective or limited-entry, with their own application steps. Practical Nursing applicants must be on the NC Nurse Aide Registry, and Practical Nursing clinical placements require a criminal background check and drug screen. The ADN is a daytime program. We could not confirm evening sections for the trade programs, so ask the program office about class times.
Accreditation and results
ICC is accredited to award associate degrees by The Commission on Colleges and Universities, the new name of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) since 1 Sep 2026. College Navigator lists its next review for December 2031, and we found no sanctions. Dental Hygiene holds initial accreditation from CODA (2025), the paramedic program is accredited by CAAHEP, and both nursing programs are approved by the North Carolina Board of Nursing.
| Measure | Result | Cohort and source |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate (150% of normal time) | 55%; a further 30% transferred out | Full-time, first-time students entering fall 2021, College Navigator |
| Retention | 71% of full-time and 72% of part-time students returned | Fall 2023 to fall 2024, College Navigator |
| Licensure and certification pass rate (index) | 0.995 (system average 0.979) | 2024-25 data, NC Community College System 2026 performance measures |
| Curriculum completion | 70% (index 1.036; system average 0.964) | Fall 2021 cohort, same report |
| Paramedic program | 89% exam pass rate, 82% retention, 100% positive placement | 2023, college’s CAAHEP outcomes page |
We do not show NCLEX pass rates for ICC’s nursing programs because we could not read the state board’s figures reliably. Readers can check the North Carolina Board of Nursing’s NCLEX pass-rate reports for each program.
Before you enroll
- Dental Assisting is not CODA-accredited. The college says it is seeking CODA accreditation, and the program page says only that graduates “may be eligible” for the DANB certification exam. Dental Hygiene, by contrast, holds CODA initial accreditation.
- Basic Plumbing is a 17-credit certificate that is not eligible for financial aid. Budget for it yourself.
- The Associate in Engineering is a transfer degree. For a technician career, look at the Engineering Technology AAS degrees.
- Nursing clinicals can be in any of six North Carolina counties and possibly two in South Carolina, so you will need reliable transport.
- The Polk Campus in Columbus now lists continuing education only, so most credit students will study in Spindale or Rutherfordton.
Three sites: what each teaches
| Campus | Address | What is taught there |
|---|---|---|
| Rutherford Campus (main) | 286 ICC Loop Road, Spindale, NC 28160 | Most credit programs, from trades and business to cosmetology, early childhood, criminal justice and university transfer |
| Rutherfordton Learning Center | 134 Maple Street, Rutherfordton, NC 28139 | All nursing (Associate Degree Nursing and Practical Nursing), fire and emergency services training, nurse aide classes |
| Polk Campus | 1255 West Mills Street, Columbus, NC 28722 | Continuing education, including nurse aide, massage therapy, pet grooming and the Small Business Center |
ICC also teaches credit courses to high-school students at several area high schools and academies through dual enrollment (Career and College Promise). Those sites are not open to the public.
What students say
On Niche, Isothermal Community College is rated 4.2 out of 5 from 64 reviews, with an overall grade of B (checked 10 Oct 2026). Reviewers praise professors who are supportive and work around students’ jobs and families, a calm and friendly atmosphere, and one-on-one relationships with instructors. One reviewer (July 2024) said there is little to do on campus or in the area. Only one complaint was visible, so the reviews say more about what students like than about problems, and they cover the whole college rather than one program.
Sources
Checked October 2026: Academic programs · Locations · 2026-27 catalog · NCCCS 2026-27 tuition memo · Accreditation · Paramedic outcomes · College Navigator · Niche
Programs & Courses
Nursing and Health
- Associate Degree Nursing (Associate; LPN-to-ADN and RIBN options)
- Practical Nursing (Diploma)
- Dental Hygiene (Associate)
- Dental Assisting (Diploma)
- Emergency Medical Science (Associate)
- Paramedic (Continuing Education)
- Emergency Medical Technician (Continuing Education)
Beauty
- Cosmetology (Associate, Certificate)
- Cosmetology Instructor (Certificate)
- Esthetics Technology (Certificate)
- Esthetics Instructor (Certificate)
- Manicuring/Nail Technology (Certificate)
- Manicuring Instructor (Certificate)
Business
- Accounting and Finance (Associate, Diploma, Certificate)
- Business Administration (Associate, Diploma, Certificate)
- Medical Office Administration (Associate, Diploma, Certificate)
Agriculture and Equine
- Agribusiness Technology (Associate, Diploma, Certificate)
- Equine Business (Associate, Diploma, Certificate)
Construction and Electrical
- Building Construction Technology (Associate, Diploma, Certificate)
- Basic Plumbing (Certificate)
- Electrical Systems Technology (Associate, Diploma, Certificate)
Manufacturing and Engineering Technology
- Computer-Integrated Machining (Associate, Diploma, Certificate)
- Welding Technology (Associate, Diploma, Certificate)
- Mechatronics Engineering Technology (Associate, Certificate)
- Industrial Systems Technology (Associate, Certificate)
- Manufacturing Technology (Associate, Certificate)
- Electronics Engineering Technology (Associate, Certificate)
- Mechanical Engineering Technology (Associate, Diploma, Certificate)
- Computer Engineering Technology (Associate, Certificate)
- Computer-Aided Drafting Technology (Associate, Certificate)
Computers, Design and Media
- Information Technology (Associate, Certificate)
- Graphic Design (Associate, Certificate)
- Audio and Video Production Technology (Associate, Diploma, Certificate)
Education and Human Services
- Early Childhood Education (Associate, Diploma, Certificate)
- Early Childhood Preschool (Certificate)
- Early Childhood Administration (Certificate)
- Infant/Toddler Care (Certificate)
- Human Services Technology (Associate, Diploma, Certificate)
- Human Services: Substance Abuse / Addiction & Recovery (Associate)
- Human Services: Animal-Assisted Interactions (Associate, Diploma, Certificate)
Law Enforcement
- Basic Law Enforcement Training (Certificate)
- Criminal Justice Technology (Associate, Diploma, Certificate)
University Transfer
- Associate in Arts
- Associate in Science
- Associate in Engineering
Campus Locations
Spindale, NC 286 ICC Loop Road, Spindale, NC 28160
Rutherfordton, NC 134 Maple Street, Rutherfordton, NC 28139
Columbus, NC 1255 West Mills Street, Columbus, NC 28722