Colleges in North Carolina
58 colleges in North Carolina that award bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates: 17 public and 41 private. 2 of them, mostly state colleges, award bachelor's degrees in fewer than a quarter of their undergraduate awards, and 2 award a substantial mix of both. Among colleges where most degrees awarded are bachelor's, the lowest average net price is at Elizabeth City State University ($6,364 a year after grants). Numbers are averages for students receiving federal aid; open a school to see what a family at your income pays.
| College | City | Type | Undergrads | Acceptance | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian State University | Boone | Public | 19,444 | 90% | $16,836 | 75% | $51,836 |
| Barton College | Wilson | Private | 982 | 94% | $23,626 | 46% | $47,913 |
| Belmont Abbey College | Belmont | Private | 1,276 | 75% | $24,639 | 47% | $47,937 |
| Bennett College | Greensboro | Private | 178 | 51% | $28,299 | 25% | $36,654 |
| Brevard College | Brevard | Private | 815 | 42% | $23,509 | 49% | $43,545 |
| Cabarrus College of Health Sciences | Concord | PrivateMostly 2-year · 20% bachelor's | 712 | 23% | $17,618 | 71% | $58,708 |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek | Private | 2,680 | 87% | $24,516 | 61% | $54,886 |
| Carolina College of Biblical Studies | Fayetteville | PrivateBachelor's & associate · 38% bachelor's | 159 | — | $21,322 | 0% | $24,581 |
| Carolina University | Winston-Salem | Private | 460 | 40% | $20,828 | 22% | $32,864 |
| Carolinas College of Health Sciences | Charlotte | PublicMostly 2-year · 19% bachelor's | 533 | 60% | — | 100% | $64,624 |
| Catawba College | Salisbury | Private | 1,235 | 75% | $17,879 | 47% | $48,793 |
| Chowan University | Murfreesboro | Private | 603 | 69% | $14,086 | 30% | $38,412 |
| Davidson College | Davidson | Private | 1,867 | 13% | $17,379 | 91% | $81,400 |
| Duke University | Durham | Private | 6,442 | 6% | $29,612 | 97% | $97,800 |
| East Carolina University | Greenville | Public | 19,896 | 89% | $15,739 | 63% | $55,146 |
| Elizabeth City State University | Elizabeth City | Public | 1,975 | 64% | $6,364 | 44% | $40,026 |
| Elon University | Elon | Private | 6,452 | 66% | $41,555 | 84% | $74,545 |
| Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville | Public | 5,762 | 82% | $7,892 | 38% | $40,144 |
| Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs | Private | 1,856 | 77% | $17,674 | 55% | $48,039 |
| Greensboro College | Greensboro | Private | 708 | 70% | $17,882 | 46% | $46,566 |
| Guilford College | Greensboro | Private | 1,001 | 80% | $22,270 | 46% | $47,590 |
| High Point University | High Point | Private | 5,129 | 75% | $38,707 | 74% | $61,389 |
| Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte | Charlotte | PrivateBachelor's & associate · 46% bachelor's | 1,184 | 80% | $27,426 | 49% | $43,418 |
| Johnson C Smith University | Charlotte | Private | 1,244 | 45% | $20,894 | 34% | $42,680 |
| Lees-McRae College | Banner Elk | Private | 873 | 77% | $28,340 | 42% | $43,415 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory | Private | 1,359 | 85% | $20,689 | 48% | $45,543 |
| Livingstone College | Salisbury | Private | 924 | 59% | $13,479 | 28% | $32,600 |
| Manna University | Fayetteville | Private | 183 | 53% | $15,210 | 80% | — |
| Mars Hill University | Mars Hill | Private | 1,044 | 68% | $19,910 | 45% | $44,781 |
| Meredith College | Raleigh | Private | 1,188 | 74% | $22,488 | 70% | $51,539 |
| Methodist University | Fayetteville | Private | 1,448 | 75% | $24,704 | 44% | $48,050 |
| Mid-Atlantic Christian University | Elizabeth City | Private | 132 | 62% | $18,328 | 21% | $38,342 |
| Montreat College | Montreat | Private | 762 | 69% | $27,061 | 50% | $45,151 |
| North Carolina A & T State University | Greensboro | Public | 12,182 | 50% | $10,846 | 57% | $44,440 |
| North Carolina Central University | Durham | Public | 6,081 | 87% | $15,359 | 42% | $42,968 |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Raleigh | Public | 27,371 | 42% | $17,303 | 85% | $68,758 |
| North Carolina Wesleyan University | Rocky Mount | Private | 1,214 | 80% | $17,432 | 42% | $45,873 |
| Pfeiffer University | Misenheimer | Private | 655 | 96% | $19,076 | 35% | $51,562 |
| Queens University of Charlotte | Charlotte | Private | 1,211 | 62% | $30,857 | 61% | $57,673 |
| Saint Augustine's University | Raleigh | Private | 172 | 34% | $24,313 | 25% | $35,730 |
| Salem College | Winston-Salem | Private | 423 | 77% | $18,277 | 57% | $44,640 |
| Shaw University | Raleigh | Private | 875 | 80% | $16,512 | 22% | $34,409 |
| Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary | Wake Forest | Private | 585 | 75% | $13,090 | 58% | — |
| University of Mount Olive | Mount Olive | Private | 1,796 | 76% | $18,853 | 52% | $47,139 |
| University of North Carolina Asheville | Asheville | Public | 2,910 | 92% | $12,250 | 54% | $44,030 |
| University of North Carolina School of the Arts | Winston Salem | Public | 945 | 30% | $14,906 | 78% | $38,357 |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | Wilmington | Public | 14,922 | 64% | $20,109 | 71% | $54,967 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill | Public | 20,752 | 15% | $11,655 | 91% | $72,200 |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte | Public | 24,453 | 80% | $15,435 | 69% | $57,289 |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro | Public | 14,062 | 89% | $10,965 | 56% | $48,160 |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Pembroke | Public | 5,330 | 93% | $10,260 | 44% | $43,407 |
| Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem | Private | 5,485 | 22% | $28,719 | 89% | $78,158 |
| Warren Wilson College | Swannanoa | Private | 707 | 71% | $21,249 | 42% | $36,260 |
| Watts College of Nursing | Durham | Private | 124 | — | — | — | — |
| Western Carolina University | Cullowhee | Public | 10,024 | 82% | $13,315 | 60% | $49,458 |
| William Peace University | Raleigh | Private | 666 | 94% | $21,649 | 45% | $46,643 |
| Wingate University | Wingate | Private | 2,668 | 91% | $20,748 | 46% | $52,649 |
| Winston-Salem State University | Winston-Salem | Public | 4,170 | 78% | $13,479 | 47% | $45,344 |
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, latest reported year. Graduation within 6 years; earnings are the median 10 years after starting college.
Best value in North Carolina for your income
The North Carolina colleges that pay back fastest for a family at your income: what it costs to finish after grants, set against how much more former students earn than high school graduates in North Carolina. Pick your income.
| # | College | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Earnings, 10 yrs | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke UniversityPrivate | $5,706 | $23,338 | $97,800 | under 1 |
| 2 | Davidson CollegePrivate | $6,759 | $27,239 | $81,400 | under 1 |
| 3 | Wake Forest UniversityPrivate | $7,647 | $30,970 | $78,158 | under 1 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Chapel HillPublic, in-state price | $8,538 | $34,835 | $72,200 | under 1 |
| 5 | North Carolina State University at RaleighPublic, in-state price | $13,334 | $56,536 | $68,758 | 1.6 |
| 6 | Elon UniversityPrivate | $24,064 | $97,940 | $74,545 | 2.4 |
| 7 | University of North Carolina at CharlottePublic, in-state price | $13,690 | $58,867 | $57,289 | 2.5 |
| 8 | East Carolina UniversityPublic, in-state price | $14,904 | $64,832 | $55,146 | 3.0 |
| 9 | Western Carolina UniversityPublic, in-state price | $12,605 | $54,706 | $49,458 | 3.4 |
| 10 | University of North Carolina WilmingtonPublic, in-state price | $17,378 | $73,683 | $54,967 | 3.4 |
Colleges where most degrees awarded are bachelor's, ranked by years of earnings gain needed to repay the cost to finish at this income. Cost to finish = net price after grants × the average years graduates took (IPEDS). Earnings gain = former students' median earnings 10 years after starting (College Scorecard) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in North Carolina (Census ACS 2020-2024). Before taxes, interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
Common Data Set in North Carolina
The Common Data Set is the standard form colleges fill out each year about admissions, the entering class and financial aid. It shows what a college weighs when deciding, its early decision and waitlist numbers, and how much aid it gives students with and without need. What it is and how to use it.
We have checked 25 North Carolina colleges so far, starting with the largest (most recently on Oct 11, 2026). 13 are on our pages; 2 more have posted one we are adding. We are still confirming 10 more.
On our pages (13)
- Appalachian State University2025-26 edition on our pages
- Davidson College2025-26 edition on our pages
- Duke University2025-26 edition on our pages
- East Carolina University2024-25 edition on our pages
- Elon University2025-26 edition on our pages
- North Carolina A & T State University2024-25 edition on our pages
- University of North Carolina Asheville2025-26 edition on our pages
- University of North Carolina Wilmington2025-26 edition on our pages
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill2025-26 edition on our pages
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte2025-26 edition on our pages
- University of North Carolina at Pembroke2025-26 edition on our pages
- Wake Forest University2025-26 edition on our pages
- Western Carolina University2025-26 edition on our pages
Posted; we're adding it (2)
- North Carolina Central University2025-26 edition posted; we're adding it
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh2025-26 edition posted; we're adding it
A college is listed as having no Common Data Set only after a person has checked its website. Colleges: if yours posts one we missed, send the link to rick@educationguide.com. How to ask a college for its Common Data Set.
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