by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard. A school that typically has a high sticker price may actually be very affordable, depending on how much need-based financial aid you receive.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
We analyzed 93 schools across North Carolina to determine which have the best value programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
To calculate the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina ranking, we first consider its average net price of students from families making $0-$30k a year. The net price is the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that that the student receives. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To account for this we consider a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a combination of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named Duke University the best value (income $0-$30k) school in North Carolina. Located in Durham, North Carolina, the school is a fairly large private not-for-profit institution.
Not only is Duke University a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in North Carolina for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $2,945.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina list. UNC Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has the honor of being ranked #2 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,908.
Read full value report on University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend North Carolina State University. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina list. This large public school is located in Raleigh, North Carolina.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, North Carolina State University is ranked #3 for quality in the state of North Carolina. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,784.
The quality degree programs at Cleveland Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina. Shelby, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Cleveland Community College has the honor of being ranked #17 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Wake Forest University. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina list. Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and has a medium-sized student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Wake Forest University is ranked #4 for quality in the state of North Carolina. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $7,527.
With a ranking of #6, Durham Technical Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina list. Durham, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Durham Technical Community College has the honor of being ranked #22 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $864.
Read full value report on Durham Technical Community College
Wake Technical Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina ranking. Raleigh, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Wake Technical Community College has the honor of being ranked #12 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,625.
Fayetteville Technical Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Fayetteville Technical Community College is ranked #25 for quality in the state of North Carolina. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $2,256.
Learn More About Value at Fayetteville Technical Community College
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #9. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Salisbury, North Carolina.
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College has the honor of being ranked #35 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,008.
Pitt Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina ranking. Winterville, North Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Pitt Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #26 in North Carolina for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,116.
With a ranking of #11, Beaufort County Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina list. Beaufort County Community College is a small public school located in Washington, North Carolina.
Not only is Beaufort County Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #18 in North Carolina for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,857.
Appalachian State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina ranking. Appalachian State is located in Boone, North Carolina and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Appalachian State University has the honor of being ranked #8 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,194.
Lenoir Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina list. Located in Kinston, North Carolina, the school is a small public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Lenoir Community College is ranked #30 for quality in the state of North Carolina. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,678.
Southwestern Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Sylva, North Carolina, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is Southwestern Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #77 in North Carolina for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $196.
Forsyth Technical Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Forsyth Technical Community College has the honor of being ranked #23 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $4,984.
With a ranking of #16, Central Piedmont Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina list. Central Piedmont Community College is located in Charlotte, North Carolina and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Central Piedmont Community College is ranked #16 for quality in the state of North Carolina. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,670.
With a ranking of #17, University of North Carolina at Greensboro did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina list. Greensboro, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of North Carolina at Greensboro is ranked #11 for quality in the state of North Carolina. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,537.
Read full value report on University of North Carolina at Greensboro
With a ranking of #18, Edgecombe Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina list. Located in Tarboro, North Carolina, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is Edgecombe Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #46 in North Carolina for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,634.
Wayne Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #19. Goldsboro, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Wayne Community College has the honor of being ranked #32 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,035.
Johnston Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina ranking. Johnston Community College is located in Smithfield, North Carolina and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Johnston Community College has the honor of being ranked #15 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,497.
Central Carolina Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina ranking. Central Carolina Community College is a small public school located in Sanford, North Carolina.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Central Carolina Community College is ranked #36 for quality in the state of North Carolina. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $4,581.
Learn More About Value at Central Carolina Community College
Cape Fear Community College landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Not only is Cape Fear Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #48 in North Carolina for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,865.
Richmond Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #23. Richmond Community College is located in Hamlet, North Carolina and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Richmond Community College has the honor of being ranked #52 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,864.
South Piedmont Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #24. South Piedmont Community College is a small public school situated in Polkton, North Carolina.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, South Piedmont Community College is ranked #50 for quality in the state of North Carolina. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $4,618.
Wilkes Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina list. Wilkes Community College is a public institution located in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
Not only is Wilkes Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #82 in North Carolina for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,115.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.