Best Online Education Programs in Garner, NC (2026)
Garner, North Carolina has a population of about 32,543. The city’s median household income is $77,496 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 45.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 68 accredited schools offering education programs near Garner, with tuition ranging from $2,336 to $58,752 per year for indexed programs. In the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, Postsecondary at a median $105,950 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Education Schools to Garner
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 68 schools in our directory that offer education programs near Garner. Distances are calculated from Garner city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaw University | Raleigh, NC | 5.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh, NC | 5.7 mi | $2,336 - $16,798 | – |
| Saint Augustine’s University | Raleigh, NC | 6.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| William Peace University | Raleigh, NC | 6.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Raleigh, NC | 6.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Meredith College | Raleigh, NC | 8.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southeastern Free Will Baptist Bible College | Wendell, NC | 13.6 mi | $11,250 - $20,643 | – |
| Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary | Wake Forest, NC | 20.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek, NC | 20.8 mi | $40,410 - $58,752 | – |
| Johnston Community College | Smithfield, NC | 21.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all North Carolina schools on the North Carolina education page.
Education Wages Near Garner
Garner is part of the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area (BLS area code 39580). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to North Carolina statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teacher | $57,880 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $58,941 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $58,010 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $59,073 |
| Middle School Teacher | $56,390 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $57,424 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $49,980 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $50,896 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $94,110 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $95,835 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $105,950 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $107,892 |
| Tutor | $37,040 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $37,719 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $62,460 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $63,605 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Garner at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 32,543 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $77,496 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 45.8% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 98.2 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Education-related employment in Wake County | 11,890 workers, 942 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Garner-Area Cities With Education Programs
- Raleigh, NC – 9.6 mi away (1,005,457 pop)
- Clayton, NC – 10.0 mi away (20,260 pop)
- Fuquay-Varina, NC – 11.3 mi away (25,865 pop)
- Cary, NC – 12.5 mi away (162,320 pop)
- Holly Springs, NC – 12.6 mi away (33,260 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited education schools are near Garner, NC?
Our directory has 68 accredited schools offering education programs near Garner. The closest is Shaw University in Raleigh, NC (5.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Johnston Community College (21.0 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying education roles near Garner?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near Garner are: Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($105,950), Education Administrator, K-12 ($94,110), Educational and Career Counselor ($62,460). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with North Carolina statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Raleigh instead of Garner?
Raleigh, NC is 9.6 miles from Garner and has its own set of local education programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Garner an affordable place to study education?
Garner’s median household income of $77,496 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Garner while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and North Carolina public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Related Resources
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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