by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Best North Carolina Schools For The Money For Those Making $30-$48k for an Associate ranking - to help you make that decision. This list may shock you as many typically expensive schools are very generous with need-based financial aid.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
After analyzing 53 schools in North Carolina, we came up with our list of those that offered the best value Associate Degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best value schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
When determining the value of a school in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina ranking, we first look at its average net price of a student coming from a family that makes $30-$48k a year. The net price is defined as the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid 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 include a college'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.
To learn more, visit 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 North Carolina State University the best value (income $30-$48k) school in North Carolina for students working on their associate degree. NC State is a large public school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Not only is North Carolina State 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 $30-$48k per year is $8,687.
Out of the 53 associate degree schools in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, Cleveland Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. Cleveland Community College is a small public school situated in Shelby, North Carolina.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Cleveland Community College is ranked #6 for quality in the state of North Carolina. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $863.
The quality degree programs at Durham Technical Community College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina. Durham Technical Community College is located in Durham, North Carolina and has a small student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Durham Technical Community College is ranked #9 for quality in the state of North Carolina. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $1,105.
Learn More About Value at Durham Technical Community College
The quality degree programs at Wake Technical Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina. Wake Technical Community College is a large public school located in Raleigh, North Carolina.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Wake Technical Community College is ranked #3 for quality in the state of North Carolina. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $4,727.
The quality degree programs at Fayetteville Technical Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina. Fayetteville, North Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Fayetteville Technical Community College has the honor of being ranked #12 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,268.
Learn More About Value at Fayetteville Technical Community College
With a ranking of #6, Beaufort County Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina list. Washington, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Beaufort County Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in North Carolina for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,294.
With a ranking of #7, Pitt Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina list. Winterville, North Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Pitt Community College is ranked #13 for quality in the state of North Carolina. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,544.
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #8. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Salisbury, North Carolina.
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College has the honor of being ranked #20 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $2,867.
Lenoir Community College landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina ranking. Kinston, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Lenoir 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 $30-$48k per year is $4,543.
Forsyth Technical Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina ranking. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Forsyth Technical Community College is ranked #10 for quality in the state of North Carolina. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,327.
Johnston Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #11. Johnston Community College is a public institution located in Smithfield, North Carolina.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Johnston Community College is ranked #4 for quality in the state of North Carolina. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,445.
With a ranking of #11, Central Piedmont Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) 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.
Central Piedmont Community College has the honor of being ranked #5 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,255.
Wayne Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Goldsboro, North Carolina, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is Wayne Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #18 in North Carolina for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $5,298.
Southwestern Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina ranking. This small public school is located in Sylva, North Carolina.
Not only is Southwestern Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #43 in North Carolina for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $1,873.
With a ranking of #15, Richmond Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina list. Richmond Community College is located in Hamlet, North Carolina and has a small student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Richmond Community College is ranked #31 for quality in the state of North Carolina. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $3,995.
Cape Fear Community College landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina ranking. CFCC is a fairly large public school situated in Wilmington, North Carolina.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Cape Fear Community College is ranked #27 for quality in the state of North Carolina. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,557.
Piedmont Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina ranking. Piedmont Community College is a public institution located in Roxboro, North Carolina.
Piedmont Community College has the honor of being ranked #45 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $2,184.
Wilkes Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the school is a small public institution.
Wilkes Community College has the honor of being ranked #47 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $1,709.
South Piedmont Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina list. 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 #29 for quality in the state of North Carolina. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $4,818.
Central Carolina Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina list. This small public school is located in Sanford, North Carolina.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Central Carolina Community College is ranked #21 for quality in the state of North Carolina. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,786.
Learn More About Value at Central Carolina Community College
Nash Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #21. Rocky Mount, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Nash Community College has the honor of being ranked #33 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,242.
Robeson Community College landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina ranking. This small public school is located in Lumberton, North Carolina.
Robeson 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 $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,544.
Catawba Valley Community College landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina ranking. Located in Hickory, North Carolina, the school is a small public institution.
Catawba Valley Community College has the honor of being ranked #19 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,925.
Edgecombe Community College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina list. Located in Tarboro, North Carolina, the school is a small public institution.
Edgecombe Community College has the honor of being ranked #26 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,764.
Mitchell Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in North Carolina list. Mitchell Community College is a public institution located in Statesville, North Carolina.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Mitchell Community College is ranked #17 for quality in the state of North Carolina. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,594.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.