The Sandhills region affords easy access to many excellent educational opportunities for you and your family. These range from higher education on the university level to the fine public school systems to various specialized independent schools, as well as the offerings for continuing education for career-minded professionals.
The Fayetteville / Fort Bragg area is literally surrounded by opportunities and pathways to advancement. The local colleges and universities include Campbell University, Fayetteville State University and Methodist University. For the finest in technical and trade schools, the region offers up Fayetteville Technical Community College, Central Carolina Community College, and Sandhills Community College.
All of course which is in addition to the renowned research universities in the nearby Triangle region, which include the likes of North Carolina State, the University of North Carolina, and Duke University.
Family educational needs are also served by Cumberland County Schools, Moore County Public Schools, Hoke County Schools, Lee County Schools, Richmond County Schools, Harnett County Schools, as well as the many quality independent schools, which offer their own unique benefits and choices for families.
The following is a closer look at a few of the region’s providers of higher and continuing education. Many of these schools also offer continuing education classes for seniors through life enrichment programs.
Campbell University
Campbell University is a progressive, private university in Buies Creek. According to school officials, Campbell is a university of the liberal arts, sciences, and professions that is committed to helping students develop an integrated Christian personality characterized by a wholeness of body, mind and spirit.
Campbell is a Baptist university affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Both in and out of the classroom, the University endeavors to present Christian principles to students and to foster their application to daily life.
Located in Buies Creek, a rural, residential community in Harnett County, Campbell University has the ideal college setting on an 850-acre campus. Raleigh, the state's capital, and Fayetteville are less than thirty miles from campus. Within about an hour's driving time students can enjoy the benefits of the Research Triangle Park, the cities of Durham and Chapel Hill.
Campbell is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Commission on Colleges, as a Level V Institution. Campbell also has accredited and nationally recognized graduate programs in business, divinity, education, law and pharmacy.
In an average year, the student body comes from all 100 North Carolina counties, 49 other states and 50 countries. Seventy-five percent of the student body comes from North Carolina.
Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville State University is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina and the second-oldest public institution of higher education in the state, according to the school’s website.
Founded in 1867 as the Howard School for the education of African Americans, today FSU serves a growing student body of more than 6,300 and ranks among the nation’s most diverse campus communities.
FSU’s enrollment has increased rapidly in the past few years while at the same time average SAT scores for entering students have also improved. A $45.5 million campus construction and renovation campaign is underway to accommodate additional students.
New undergraduate degree programs have been established, including undergraduate degrees in biotechnology, communications, forensic science, management information systems, and generic nursing. In addition, there are new graduate programs that offer the master’s of arts in teaching and the master’s of science in criminal justice.
Altogether FSU boasts 43 undergraduate programs, 23 master’s degree programs, and one doctoral program in educational leadership. These programs vary in areas of the arts and sciences, business and economics, and education.
Methodist University
Located in Fayetteville, Methodist University serves approximately 2,200 students—1,600 in the day program and 600 in Methodist University at Night, the University's evening and weekend program.
Methodist University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate, baccalaureate, and masters degrees.
The university is also a member of the North Carolina Association of Colleges and Universities, the North Carolina Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and the North Carolina Association for Colleges of Teacher Education.
New majors and concentrations recently added include interdisciplinary studies of clandestine labs, church leadership, and radio communications. The University offers three master's degree programs: the Master of Medical Science in physician assistant studies, the Master of Business Administration in organizational management and leadership, and the Master of Justice Administration.
Fayetteville Technical Community College
According to its website, Fayetteville Technical Community College (often shortened to FTCC or FayTech) is a Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredited community college in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
It is part of the North Carolina Community College System. FTCC is the fourth largest community college in North Carolina boasts the largest Continuing Education program in North Carolina. Located adjacent to Fort Bragg, the College has provided education to the military since 1961.
Sandhills Community College
Moore County’s Sandhills Community College (SCC) is one of the top community colleges in North Carolina. Accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and a member of the North Carolina Community College System, SCC serves students of all ages and offers a multitude of programs and classes for citizens with varied educational needs and backgrounds.
The college offers three college transfer degrees (Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, and Associate in Fine Arts) and 69 technical programs leading to an associate’s degree, diploma or certificate.
The flexible Continuing Education Program offers courses on and off campus and via the Internet and is designed to help adults upgrade their current skills or undergo retraining.
SCC is composed of the 150-acre main campus in Pinehurst, and two satellite campuses: Hoke Center in Raeford (Hoke County), and Westmoore Center in Robbins. In addition, St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke each have a satellite campus at SCC.
Central Carolina Community College
Central Carolina Community College offers Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degree programs that transfer to four-year colleges and universities, two-year programs that lead to an Associate in Applied Science degree, and one-year programs that lead to a diploma and/or a certificate.
Articulation agreements with four-year colleges and universities enable its graduates to move seamlessly into additional education, if that is their goal.
The college also offers non-curriculum courses in basic education, technical, vocational, enrichment, and general interest areas. These non-curriculum courses do not count toward a college degree or diploma, but a certificate of completion is given and continuing education units are awarded. The Adult High School/GED program awards a diploma or certificate.
The college's Lee County Campus is home to Lee Early College, an innovative partnership with Lee County Public Schools. Students earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree in five years. The student body is diverse, but its members are united by their personal motivation and ability to thrive in a college setting.
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