OpenFieldBlue Ridge Community College
Gain hands-on skills in mechatronics engineering, healthcare sciences, and craft brewing at Blue Ridge Community College in North Carolina.
Institution Overview & Profile
Blue Ridge Community College, situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina with campuses in Henderson and Transylvania counties, is a premier two-year public institution renowned for its cutting-edge mechatronics, advanced manufacturing, brewing and distillation sciences, and comprehensive university transfer degrees.
Key Academic Strengths
- Southeastern Advanced Molding and Manufacturing Technology Centre (SAMMTC)
- Apprenticeship Blue Ridge: tuition-free company-paid youth and adult technical apprenticeships
- Craft Beverage Fermentation and Distillation program serving the regional brewing economy
- Seamless Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) transferring credits to all 16 UNC system universities
Featured Academic & Degree Programs
Associate in Applied Science in Mechatronics Engineering Technology
Two-year technical degree covering industrial robotics, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), electrical motors, and automated manufacturing systems.
Associate in Science (University Transfer)
Sixty-credit transfer pathway directly articulating into engineering, computer science, and biological science bachelor's degrees across the UNC system.
Brewing, Distillation and Fermentation (AAS)
Hands-on instruction in yeast microbiology, brewhouse engineering, sensory evaluation, and quality assurance chemistry.
Verified Academic Opportunities (7)
Blue Ridge Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship
Endowed scholarship awarding full and partial tuition assistance to curriculum students pursuing engineering, technology, or health sciences.
Apprenticeship Blue Ridge Salaried Technical Contract
Four-year registered apprenticeship pairing students with regional manufacturing corporations with full tuition coverage and paid wages.
Associate in Science to UNC Engineering Articulation Pathway
Two-year degree program providing guaranteed junior-year transfer into engineering faculties at NC State University or UNC Charlotte.
Craft Brewing & Distillation Laboratory Practicum
Paid semester internship embedded within regional commercial craft breweries (e.g., Sierra Nevada, Oskar Blues) in western North Carolina.
North Carolina Longleaf Commitment Tuition Grant
State legislative grant covering 100% of tuition and mandatory fees for eligible graduating high school seniors attending Blue Ridge CC.
Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Healthcare Admission
Five-semester registered nursing program preparing students for the NCLEX-RN licensing exam with clinical rotations in Pardee and AdventHealth.
Automotive Systems Technology Master Technician Certificate
ASE-certified technical training in electric vehicle (EV) drivetrains, computer diagnostics, electronic braking, and suspension systems.
Notable Faculty & Researchers (3)
Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood
President of Blue Ridge Community College · Office of the President
Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood has served as President of Blue Ridge Community College since 2017, earning national acclaim for expanding Apprenticeship Blue Ridge and securing major industrial training partnerships.
Sharon Suprun
Dean of Applied Technologies · Division of Applied Technologies
Sharon Suprun directs the engineering technology and advanced manufacturing curricula at Blue Ridge, steering partnerships with regional aerospace and automotive suppliers.
Dr. Chad Bledsoe
Executive Vice President · Executive Administration
Dr. Chad Bledsoe manages institutional operations, accreditation compliance, and state university transfer articulation agreements across North Carolina.
Next Steps & Application Advisory
Prospective scholars are advised to review official Blue Ridge Community College program requirements well in advance of published deadlines.