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. There are 5 accredited technology programs within 100 miles of Gastonia, with tuition ranging from $2,602 to $30,286 per year. In the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, the top-earning technology-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $172,100 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer technology programs. Distances are calculated from Gastonia city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaston College | Dallas, NC | 4.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Cleveland Community College | Shelby, NC | 17.4 mi | $2,602 - $8,746 | – |
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte, NC | 20.2 mi | $2,792 - $10,951 | – |
| Winthrop University | Rock Hill, SC | 23.1 mi | $15,956 - $30,286 | – |
| York Technical College | Rock Hill, SC | 24.3 mi | $5,512 - $15,399 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all North Carolina schools on the North Carolina technology page.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $132,100 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $135,766 |
| Information Security Analyst | $127,840 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $131,387 |
| Computer Network Architect | $129,640 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $133,237 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrator | $98,350 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $101,079 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $65,380 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $67,194 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $61,250 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $62,950 |
| Web Developer | $96,110 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $98,777 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | $172,100 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $176,876 |
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.
| 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 |
| Technology-related employment in Gaston County | 544 workers, 80 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 5 technology programs within 100 miles of Gastonia. The closest is Gaston College in Dallas, NC (4.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is York Technical College (24.3 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying technology-related roles near Gastonia are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($172,100), Software Developer ($132,100), Computer Network Architect ($129,640). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with North Carolina statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Lincolnton, NC is 15.8 miles from Gastonia and has its own set of local technology programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
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.
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.
Return to Best Online Technology Programs in North Carolina (2026)