Best Online Education Programs in Smithfield, NC (2026)
Smithfield, North Carolina has a population of about 11,798. The city’s median household income is $37,827 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 26.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 63 accredited schools offering education programs near Smithfield, 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 Smithfield
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 63 schools in our directory that offer education programs near Smithfield. Distances are calculated from Smithfield city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnston Community College | Smithfield, NC | 1.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southeastern Free Will Baptist Bible College | Wendell, NC | 20.1 mi | $11,250 - $20,643 | – |
| Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh, NC | 22.1 mi | $2,336 - $16,798 | – |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek, NC | 23.0 mi | $40,410 - $58,752 | – |
| Wayne Community College | Goldsboro, NC | 24.0 mi | $2,524 - $11,311 | – |
| Shaw University | Raleigh, NC | 24.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saint Augustine’s University | Raleigh, NC | 24.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| William Peace University | Raleigh, NC | 25.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Raleigh, NC | 26.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Mount Olive | Mount Olive, NC | 26.4 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 Smithfield
Smithfield 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.
Smithfield at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,798 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $37,827 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 26.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 98.2 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Education-related employment in Johnston County | 521 workers, 60 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Smithfield-Area Cities With Education Programs
- Clayton, NC – 11.4 mi away (20,260 pop)
- Garner, NC – 19.7 mi away (28,776 pop)
- Goldsboro, NC – 23.2 mi away (59,969 pop)
- Fuquay-Varina, NC – 24.8 mi away (25,865 pop)
- Raleigh, NC – 27.5 mi away (1,005,457 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited education schools are near Smithfield, NC?
Our directory has 63 accredited schools offering education programs near Smithfield. The closest is Johnston Community College in Smithfield, NC (1.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of Mount Olive (26.4 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying education roles near Smithfield?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near Smithfield 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 Clayton instead of Smithfield?
Clayton, NC is 11.4 miles from Smithfield 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 Smithfield an affordable place to study education?
Smithfield’s median household income of $37,827 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Smithfield 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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