Best Financial Planning Schools Near Forest City, NC (2026)

Updated September 7, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Forest City, North Carolina is home to about 7,368 residents. Median household income is $35,897 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 17.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In North Carolina, the top-earning financial planning-related role is Financial Managers at a median $166,780 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Financial Planning Schools to Forest City

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer financial planning programs near Forest City, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Forest City city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Forest City. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Carolina University

Winston-Salem, NC 104.8 miles from Forest City
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
26.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 39%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $32,864
Avg net price $20,828/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 56%
  • Programs offered: 17

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all North Carolina schools on the North Carolina financial planning page.

Financial Planning Wages Near Forest City

Occupation Median Annual Wage (North Carolina, statewide)
Personal Financial Advisors $96,880
Financial Managers $166,780
Financial and Investment Analysts $102,390
Accountants and Auditors $82,050
Financial Examiners $100,730
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents $74,040
Loan Officers $75,920
Credit Counselors $46,180

Source: BLS, May 2025 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.

Forest City at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 7,368 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $35,897 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 17.2% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Forest City-Area Cities With Financial Planning Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the highest-paying financial planning roles in North Carolina?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying financial planning-related roles in North Carolina are: Financial Managers ($166,780), Financial and Investment Analysts ($102,390), Financial Examiners ($100,730). Wages for Forest City workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Shelby instead of Forest City?

Shelby, NC is 18.8 miles from Forest City and has its own set of local financial planning programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Forest City an affordable place to study financial planning?

Forest City’s median household income of $35,897 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Forest City 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.

Learn More About Financial Planning Programs

Other Programs Available in Forest City

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Forest City:

Data verified: September 7, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; 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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