These are the 10 Best Value Colleges in North Carolina
Picking the right college is an important choice. Where you go could define your future. So how do you know which school is the best for you? Thanks to SmartAsset,…

A pillared building with cherry blossoms in the foreground.
Getty Images/Ryan HerronPicking the right college is an important choice. Where you go could define your future. So how do you know which school is the best for you? Thanks to SmartAsset, these are the 10 best value colleges in North Carolina.
Where are college students in North Carolina getting the most return on their educational investment? In this study released the best colleges and universities were compared in each state. These colleges and universities were measured across five metrics, including scholarships, average starting salary for graduates, tuition, living costs, and student retention rate. These are the results.
Check out the top-performing schools in North Carolina below:
10. Winston-Salem State University
Rank | School | City, State | Avg. Scholarships and Grants | Avg. Starting Salary | College Tuition | Student Living Costs | Student Retention Rate | College Education Value |
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10 | Winston-Salem State University | Winston Salem, NC | $8,138 | $50,500 | $5,904 | $14,230 | 77% | 42.05 |
9. Western Carolina University
Rank | School | City, State | Avg. Scholarships and Grants | Avg. Starting Salary | College Tuition | Student Living Costs | Student Retention Rate | College Education Value |
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9 | Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, NC | $5,641 | $48,700 | $3,926 | $13,779 | 81% | 42.07 |
8. East Carolina University
Rank | School | City, State | Avg. Scholarships and Grants | Avg. Starting Salary | College Tuition | Student Living Costs | Student Retention Rate | College Education Value |
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8 | East Carolina University | Greenville, NC | $7,722 | $52,600 | $7,188 | $14,484 | 83% | 45.77 |
7. University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Rank | School | City, State | Avg. Scholarships and Grants | Avg. Starting Salary | College Tuition | Student Living Costs | Student Retention Rate | College Education Value |
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7 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | $7,347 | $56,800 | $6,853 | $16,841 | 85% | 46.08 |
6. Wake Forest University
Rank | School | City, State | Avg. Scholarships and Grants | Avg. Starting Salary | College Tuition | Student Living Costs | Student Retention Rate | College Education Value |
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6 | Wake Forest University | Winston Salem, NC | $37,880 | $65,300 | $53,322 | $18,316 | 95% | 47.21 |
5. Appalachian State University
Rank | School | City, State | Avg. Scholarships and Grants | Avg. Starting Salary | College Tuition | Student Living Costs | Student Retention Rate | College Education Value |
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5 | Appalachian State University | Boone, NC | $8,130 | $51,300 | $7,364 | $11,830 | 86% | 52.83 |
4. North Carolina A & T State University
Rank | School | City, State | Avg. Scholarships and Grants | Avg. Starting Salary | College Tuition | Student Living Costs | Student Retention Rate | College Education Value |
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4 | North Carolina A & T State University | Greensboro, NC | $8,760 | $57,600 | $6,612 | $11,524 | 80% | 61.18 |
3. North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Rank | School | City, State | Avg. Scholarships and Grants | Avg. Starting Salary | College Tuition | Student Living Costs | Student Retention Rate | College Education Value |
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3 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Raleigh, NC | $10,175 | $62,200 | $9,101 | $14,876 | 94% | 63.81 |
2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Rank | School | City, State | Avg. Scholarships and Grants | Avg. Starting Salary | College Tuition | Student Living Costs | Student Retention Rate | College Education Value |
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2 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC | $15,936 | $60,400 | $8,987 | $14,824 | 95% | 66.10 |
1. Duke University
Rank | School | City, State | Avg. Scholarships and Grants | Avg. Starting Salary | College Tuition | Student Living Costs | Student Retention Rate | College Education Value |
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1 | Duke University | Durham, NC | $48,351 | $76,800 | $55,695 | $18,644 | 97% | 69.78 |