2023 Best Bachelor's Degree Schools in North Carolina
There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamp that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Bachelor's Degree Schools in North Carolina ranking. This report analyzed 41 schools in North Carolina to see which ones offered the best bachelor's degree programs for students. To come up with a school's ranking, we analyzed numerous factors related to post-graduation wages, the quality of education offered by the school, average accumulated student debt, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Bachelor's Degree Schools in North Carolina
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Duke University to be the best school for students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in North Carolina.
Duke does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $60,244. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Duke accumulate an average of $29,049 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Duke does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 99% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Wake Forest University is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
The average tuition and fees at Wake Forest University is $59,770. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,222 in student loans.
Wake Forest University does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 98% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Out of the 41 schools in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, Elon University landed the # 3 spot on the list.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $38,725 to cover tuition and fees at Elon. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $17,558 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina list.
Students from North Carolina who attend UNC Chapel Hill full time pay an average of $9,028 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $36,891. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from UNC Chapel Hill accumulate an average of $16,347 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UNC Chapel Hill does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 99% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at North Carolina State University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in North Carolina.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at NC State is $9,131. Out-of-state students pay an average of $29,916. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $21,305 in loans while pursuing their degree.
NC State does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 95% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #6, Meredith College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
Meredith does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $41,224. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,544 in student loans.
East Carolina University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
Students from North Carolina who attend ECU full time pay an average of $7,297 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $23,574. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,531 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that ECU does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 96% took at least some of their classes online.
Appalachian State University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
Full-time students from North Carolina pay an average of $7,410 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Appalachian State. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $23,017. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Appalachian State accumulate an average of $21,113 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Appalachian State does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 96% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #9, University of North Carolina at Charlotte did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
In-state students pay an average of $7,188 in tuition and fees if they attend UNC Charlotte full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $20,622. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,912 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at UNC Charlotte. During the 2019-2020 year, about 96% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
University of North Carolina at Wilmington landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
Full-time students from North Carolina pay an average of $7,238 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend UNCW. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $21,303. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $22,787 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at UNCW. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 97% took at least some of their classes online.
Read full report on University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte ranked #11 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina list.
If you want to attend JWU Charlotte, expect to pay an average of $35,900 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from JWU Charlotte accumulate an average of $27,600 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
JWU Charlotte does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 9% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina ranking.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UNC Greensboro is $7,468. Out-of-state students pay an average of $22,627. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from UNC Greensboro accumulate an average of $24,759 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
UNC Greensboro does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 98% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #13, Queens University of Charlotte did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $38,726 to cover tuition and fees at Queens. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Queens accumulate an average of $27,540 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Queens. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 100% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Wingate University landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $40,170 to cover tuition and fees at Wingate. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Wingate accumulate an average of $24,901 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Wingate is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
Western Carolina University landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
In-state students pay an average of $4,367 in tuition and fees if they attend WCU full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,367. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from WCU accumulate an average of $23,228 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
WCU does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 80% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Belmont Abbey College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina ranking.
On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $28,397 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that BAC does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 10% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Lees - McRae College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $28,667 to cover tuition and fees at Lees - McRae College. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $21,142 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Lees - McRae College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 25% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
High Point University landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
The average tuition and fees at High Point is $39,752. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at High Point. In 2019-2020 about 19% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Campbell University landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $38,160 to cover tuition and fees at Campbell. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $23,740 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Campbell does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 25% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Fayetteville State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina list.
Full-time students from North Carolina pay an average of $5,379 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Fayetteville State University. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $16,987. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Fayetteville State University accumulate an average of $28,780 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Fayetteville State University does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 92% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Catawba College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina list.
By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,156 in student loans.
Catawba does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 72% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #22, University of Mount Olive did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
The average tuition and fees at UMO is $22,618. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from UMO accumulate an average of $30,758 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at UMO. In fact, around 86% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #23, Pfeiffer University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
Pfeiffer University does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $32,480. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Pfeiffer University accumulate an average of $28,113 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Pfeiffer University does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 28% took at least some of their classes online.
University of North Carolina at Pembroke did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #24 on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UNC Pembroke is $3,495. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,495. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $26,823 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that UNC Pembroke does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 89% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Winston - Salem State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #25 on the list.
In-state students pay an average of $6,247 in tuition and fees if they attend WSSU full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $16,903. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from WSSU accumulate an average of $28,735 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
WSSU does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 96% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Best Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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