Tri County Community College

Tri County Community College serves Cherokee, Clay, and Graham counties from its main campus in Murphy, North Carolina, situated in the western part of the state near the Tennessee and Georgia borders. The rural campus, established in 1964, operates within the North Carolina Community College System and consists of multiple academic buildings spread across its wooded setting in the Appalachian Mountains. The college offers associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates with emphasis on technical and vocational programs, including notable offerings in automotive systems technology, nursing, and computer integrated machining. Students primarily commute to campus, though the college maintains partnerships with area four-year institutions to facilitate transfer pathways for those pursuing bachelor's degrees.