Best Online Education Programs in Gastonia, NC (2026)
Gastonia, North Carolina has a population of about 81,632. The city’s median household income is $60,554 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 27.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 77 accredited schools offering education programs near Gastonia, with tuition ranging from $2,602 to $32,494 per year for indexed programs. In the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, Postsecondary at a median $94,750 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Education Schools to Gastonia
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 77 schools in our directory that offer education programs near Gastonia. Distances are calculated from Gastonia city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaston College | Dallas, NC | 4.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Belmont Abbey College | Belmont, NC | 8.2 mi | $19,500 - $32,494 | – |
| Cleveland Community College | Shelby, NC | 17.5 mi | $2,602 - $8,746 | – |
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte, NC | 20.2 mi | $2,792 - $10,951 | – |
| Queens University of Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | 20.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Winthrop University | Rock Hill, SC | 23.0 mi | $15,956 - $30,286 | – |
| York Technical College | Rock Hill, SC | 24.3 mi | $5,512 - $15,399 | – |
| Clinton College | Rock Hill, SC | 24.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Davidson College | Davidson, NC | 25.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | 25.9 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 Gastonia
Gastonia is part of the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area (BLS area code 16740). 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 | $58,050 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $59,661 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $56,780 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $58,356 |
| Middle School Teacher | $58,480 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $60,103 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $68,340 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $70,236 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $81,340 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $83,597 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $94,750 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $97,379 |
| Tutor | $44,030 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $45,252 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $59,990 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $61,655 |
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.
Gastonia at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 81,632 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $60,554 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 27.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 97.3 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Education-related employment in Gaston County | 1,343 workers, 64 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Gastonia-Area Cities With Education Programs
- Lincolnton, NC – 15.8 mi away (23,264 pop)
- Charlotte, NC – 20.2 mi away (1,438,351 pop)
- Shelby, NC – 20.3 mi away (27,288 pop)
- Huntersville, NC – 20.6 mi away (54,839 pop)
- Cornelius, NC – 23.0 mi away (28,515 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited education schools are near Gastonia, NC?
Our directory has 77 accredited schools offering education programs near Gastonia. The closest is Gaston College in Dallas, NC (4.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of North Carolina at Charlotte (25.9 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying education roles near Gastonia?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near Gastonia are: Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($94,750), Education Administrator, K-12 ($81,340), Education Teacher, Postsecondary ($68,340). 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 Lincolnton instead of Gastonia?
Lincolnton, NC is 15.8 miles from Gastonia 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 Gastonia an affordable place to study education?
Gastonia’s median household income of $60,554 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Gastonia 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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