The Durham Cathedral
Durham, North Carolina, located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, is minutes away from the Raleigh, the state capital. Durham is known for Duke University, a consistently top-rated private university, but the local population is overwhelmingly working class, and Durham is also home to a few technical schools. Chief among these is the state-run Durham Technical Community College. Durham also hosts two cosmetology schools, one art school and a "body-therapy" school.
Cosmetology
The two cosmetology schools in Durham--Regency Beauty School and The Hair Design School--are both franchise schools with branches all over the nation. Regency is located at Northgate Mall, on Highway 15-501 at 1058 West Club Boulevard. Hair Design is located at 5106 N. Roxboro Road, near Interstate-85. Both schools are accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences. Both require enrollees to be at least 16 years old with a high school diploma or a GED. Both have financial aid packages that include payment plans with interest.
Art Institutes
The Art Institutes is also a multi-state franchise school, offering courses in design, media arts, fashion and culinary skills. The Durham franchise is located downtown, at 410 Blackwell St., Suite 200, near the Durham Bulls stadium and the shops of the trendy, refitted Tobacco District. The Art Institutes offer both associate degree and bachelor degree programs, accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools and recognized by the United States Department of Education. Applicants for admission need at least a high school graduation of GED, with a minimum 2.0 grade point average (GPA) recommended but not required. Quarterly tuition, as of 2011, was $7,568, with additional fees and costs added.
Durham Tech
Durham Technical Community College, or "Durham Tech," is a two-year school that is part of the state community college system. It is located at 1637 Lawson Street, in East Durham just off of Durham Freeway. Durham Tech offers academic subjects that are transferable to four-year schools, as well as a host of technical/trade courses. Technical course offerings, classified as "Continuing Education" courses, include allied health courses, automotive, biotechnology, business management, communications, computers, construction, culinary and hospitality, green jobs, fitness and various career courses such as bartending, interior design and photography.
Inside Out
Inside Out Body Therapies is located at 5720 Fayetteville Road, Suite 101, downtown near the Durham Freeway. It is a local establishment that is both a service enterprise and a classroom for acupuncture, massage, rolfing, tai chi, yoga and other wellness techniques. The only certification courses offered are for Pilates. Prices are extremely variable, depending on the subject and the class size.
The City of Durham
The City of Durham's cost of living is within two dollars of the national city average, at $34,866. There is great diversity, however, among different areas of Durham, as Duke University, with its phalanx of highly-paid professionals, raises the average considerably near the two Duke campuses. Durham has a lively cultural life, its own minor league baseball team and is located along the beautiful Eno River State Park. It is also only 25 minutes from downtown Raleigh and merges with the Research Triangle Park.
Tags: Durham Tech, North Carolina, City Durham, College Durham, Community College, Community College Durham