The Hickory Metro Higher Ed Center (HMHEC) is a collaborative partnership among Appalachian State University, Catawba Valley Community College, Lenoir-Rhyne College, Northwest AHEC, UNC Charlotte, UNC Chapel Hill, and Western Carolina University.

The mission of the HMHEC is to support and enhance the educational attainment and economic development of the region by offering a broad range of programming in targeted areas of study as needed and requested by the community.