Colleges in North Carolina: 53 Ranked by Earnings, Tuition & Graduation Rate
Every college in North Carolina with verified College Scorecard data, ranked three ways below: by graduate earnings, by in-state tuition and by graduation rate. 61 institutions in total.
Institutions
61
Avg In-State Tuition
$23,360
Avg Out-of-State
$27,043
Avg Earnings
$41,549
Quick answer
According to College Scorecard data on CollegeFactbook.com, North Carolina has 61 degree-granting colleges and universities with average in-state tuition of $23,360 and average graduate earnings of $41,549 ten years after entry.
State Overview
North Carolina has a higher education landscape comprising 61 institutions. The average in-state tuition is $23,359.57, while the average out-of-state tuition is $27,042.83.
The average graduate earnings for North Carolina institutions are $41,549.42.
Generated from College Scorecard & IPEDS data
Schools by Type
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
PUBLICChapel Hill, NC
Tuition
$8,989
Avg Earnings
$57,057
Acceptance
19%
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
PUBLICRaleigh, NC
Tuition
$8,895
Avg Earnings
$57,623
Acceptance
40%
University of North Carolina Wilmington
PUBLICWilmington, NC
Tuition
$7,317
Avg Earnings
$46,972
Acceptance
74%
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
PUBLICCharlotte, NC
Tuition
$7,214
Avg Earnings
$48,812
Acceptance
80%
East Carolina University
PUBLICGreenville, NC
Tuition
$7,361
Avg Earnings
$46,420
Acceptance
90%
Appalachian State University
PUBLICBoone, NC
Tuition
$7,541
Avg Earnings
$43,663
Acceptance
89%
Western Carolina University
PUBLICCullowhee, NC
Tuition
$4,532
Avg Earnings
$43,085
Acceptance
87%
North Carolina Central University
PUBLICDurham, NC
Tuition
$6,542
Avg Earnings
$35,967
Acceptance
91%
Fayetteville State University
PUBLICFayetteville, NC
Tuition
$3,969
Avg Earnings
$37,831
Acceptance
80%
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
PUBLICGreensboro, NC
Tuition
$7,593
Avg Earnings
$39,869
Acceptance
90%
Elizabeth City State University
PUBLICElizabeth City, NC
Tuition
$3,412
Avg Earnings
$33,776
Acceptance
71%
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
PUBLICPembroke, NC
Tuition
$3,571
Avg Earnings
$37,126
Acceptance
92%
Winston-Salem State University
PUBLICWinston-Salem, NC
Tuition
$6,735
Avg Earnings
$40,557
Acceptance
69%
University of North Carolina Asheville
PUBLICAsheville, NC
Tuition
$7,461
Avg Earnings
$36,947
Acceptance
94%
North Carolina A & T State University
PUBLICGreensboro, NC
Tuition
$6,748
Avg Earnings
$36,638
Acceptance
46%
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
PUBLICWinston Salem, NC
Tuition
$9,477
Avg Earnings
$24,537
Acceptance
33%
Popular Majors in North Carolina
Business Administration, Management and Operations
9,077 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
4,685 graduates
Psychology, General
3,630 graduates
Biology, General
3,488 graduates
Communication and Media Studies
3,012 graduates
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
2,804 graduates
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
2,666 graduates
Political Science and Government
1,899 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
1,885 graduates
Criminal Justice and Corrections
1,849 graduates
Social Work
1,781 graduates
Economics
1,351 graduates
Cost Comparison
Cost Analysis
North Carolina's average in-state tuition of $23,360 compares to an average out-of-state tuition of $27,043. The average graduate from a North Carolina institution earns $41,549 within 5 years of graduation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Colleges in North Carolina, Ranked by Data
Three orderings of the same 53 colleges, straight from College Scorecard: who earns most after graduating, who charges least in-state, and who graduates the largest share. No editorial weighting.
Best colleges in North Carolina by graduate earnings
- 1 Duke University $85,792 median, 5 yrs · Durham
- 2 Chamberlain University-North Carolina $84,533 median, 5 yrs · Charlotte
- 3 Wake Forest University $67,722 median, 5 yrs · Winston-Salem
- 4 Davidson College $62,866 median, 5 yrs · Davidson
- 5 Elon University $58,082 median, 5 yrs · Elon
- 6 North Carolina State University at Raleigh $57,623 median, 5 yrs · Raleigh
- 7 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill $57,057 median, 5 yrs · Chapel Hill
- 8 High Point University $50,955 median, 5 yrs · High Point
- 9 University of North Carolina at Charlotte $48,812 median, 5 yrs · Charlotte
- 10 Queens University of Charlotte $48,170 median, 5 yrs · Charlotte
Cheapest colleges in North Carolina by in-state tuition
- 1 Elizabeth City State University $3,412 / year · Elizabeth City
- 2 University of North Carolina at Pembroke $3,571 / year · Pembroke
- 3 Fayetteville State University $3,969 / year · Fayetteville
- 4 Western Carolina University $4,532 / year · Cullowhee
- 5 North Carolina Central University $6,542 / year · Durham
- 6 Winston-Salem State University $6,735 / year · Winston-Salem
- 7 North Carolina A & T State University $6,748 / year · Greensboro
- 8 University of North Carolina at Charlotte $7,214 / year · Charlotte
- 9 University of North Carolina Wilmington $7,317 / year · Wilmington
- 10 East Carolina University $7,361 / year · Greenville
Best colleges in North Carolina by graduation rate
- 1 Duke University 96 % graduate · Durham
- 2 Davidson College 92 % graduate · Davidson
- 3 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 92 % graduate · Chapel Hill
- 4 Wake Forest University 90 % graduate · Winston-Salem
- 5 North Carolina State University at Raleigh 85 % graduate · Raleigh
- 6 Elon University 83 % graduate · Elon
- 7 University of North Carolina School of the Arts 81 % graduate · Winston Salem
- 8 Appalachian State University 74 % graduate · Boone
- 9 University of North Carolina Wilmington 73 % graduate · Wilmington
- 10 High Point University 69 % graduate · High Point
National rankings: highest earning · most affordable · best graduation rate · best ROI.