Mars Hill College offers a liberal arts education to the 1,200 students enrolled as of 2011. Located within a 90-minute drive from Bakersville, in Asheville, the campus ranges 194 acres and offers degrees in 30 majors. The college also has an adult and graduate education program and features bachelor's degrees in business, special education, social work and more. The college participates in 19 intercollegiate sports, competing in the NCAA Division II level. Some of these include men's and women's basketball, cross country and tennis, as well as football and women's soccer. Typical annual cost of education at Mars Hill College has been estimated at $30,000 as of 2011. The college offers financial aid packages for students, who are also eligible to apply for state and federal grants as well as scholarships.
Lees-McRae College lies within an hour's drive of Bakersville, in the village of Banner Elk. The college offers academic programs in a variety of subjects, including musical theater, biology, Appalachian studies and mathematics. Lees-McRae College also supports extended-campus programs for students who have completed two years of their education and working toward four-year degrees. Subjects offered include nursing, criminal justice and business. The college also has an active alumni association that organizes regular events and publishes an alumni magazine. The approximate cost of an academic year at Lees-McRae is $30,564 as of 2011, and some courses have additional fees for materials, laboratory costs etc. More than 95 percent of the student body receives financial aid in the form of scholarships and grants.
in 2010, Mayland Community College received a No. 4 ranking in Washington Monthly's list of the Top 50 Community Colleges in America. Only a 20-minute drive from Bakersville, Maryland Community College offers 35 curriculum programs. Associate-degree courses include fine arts, pre-criminal justice and pre-social work. The Business, Engineering and Public Services Department offers courses in subjects such as hospitality management, office administration and early childhood education. The Health Sciences Department features programs in nursing and medical assisting. The college also offers distance-learning courses online.The cost of a full-time, 16-credit semester at Mayland Community College is $904 as of 2011. Financial aid is available.
Asheville-Buncombe offers associate degrees, diplomas and certificates in many areas of study, including carpentry, cosmetology and medical coding. For those needing a more flexible opportunity to study, online courses include business, computers and more. The college's Holly Library can accessed online for research, e-books and other study materials, and the library even has laptops for student use. Students can apply for financial aid.