2023 Best Value Schools in North Carolina
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices
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. Also, there are a number of trade schools and bootcamps with offerings that you might find attractive.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Value Schools in North Carolina ranking. Our analysis looked at 85 schools in North Carolina to see which programs offered the best value experiences for students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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Top Value Schools in North Carolina
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named South Piedmont Community College the best value school in North Carolina for students working on their degree. Located in Polkton, North Carolina, the small public school handed out 548 degrees in 2020-2021.
South Piedmont Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,623 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,061 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, South Piedmont Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,106 during the early year of their career.
In addition to its great value ranking, South Piedmont Community College is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Schools in North Carolina list.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Craven Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Schools in North Carolina list. Located in New Bern, North Carolina, the small public school handed out 775 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Craven Community College are $6,630 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $11,708 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Craven Community College graduates make an average of $36,426 annually.
Out of the 85 schools in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, Pitt Community College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Pitt Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Winterville, North Carolina. It awarded 2,404 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Pitt Community College are $6,548 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,943 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Pitt Community College graduates make an average of $34,276 annually.
The excellent programs at Vance-Granville Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value schools in North Carolina. Vance-Granville Community College is a small public school situated in Henderson, North Carolina. It awarded 601 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Vance-Granville Community College are $6,552 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $15,175 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Vance-Granville Community College graduates make an average of $33,291 annually.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Alamance Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Schools in North Carolina list. This small public school is located in Graham, North Carolina, and it awarded 1,730 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at ACC are $8,070 a year. On average, students take out $13,359 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, ACC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $30,251 during the early year of their career.
ACC also claimed a spot on our Best Schools in North Carolina list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Durham Technical Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in North Carolina ranking. Durham Technical Community College is a public institution located in Durham, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,825 degrees in 2020-2021.
Durham Technical Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,479 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $24,829 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Durham Technical Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,666 during the early years of their career.
Wake Technical Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Wake Technical Community College is a large public school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 8,408 degrees in 2020-2021.
Wake Technical Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,912 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $22,490 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Wake Technical Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,991 during the early year of their career.
In addition to its great value ranking, Wake Technical Community College is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Schools in North Carolina list.
Forsyth Technical Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in North Carolina ranking. Winston-Salem, North Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,569 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Forsyth Tech are $7,168 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,427 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Forsyth Tech graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,071 during the early year of their career.
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #9 on the list. This small public school is located in Hudson, North Carolina, and it awarded 1,465 degrees in 2020-2021.
CCCTI undergraduate students pay an average of $8,681 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $10,798 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, CCCTI graduates make an average of $30,561 annually.
Guilford Technical Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #10 on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Jamestown, North Carolina, and it awarded 2,911 degrees in 2020-2021.
Guilford Technical Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,665 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $22,729 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Guilford Technical Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $30,854 during the early year of their career.
Beaufort County Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in North Carolina ranking. Washington, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 630 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Beaufort County Community College are $8,662 a year. On average, students take out $16,934 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Beaufort County Community College graduates make an average of $41,797 annually.
Central Piedmont Community College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Charlotte, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 4,084 students in 2020-2021.
Central Piedmont Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,936 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,635 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Central Piedmont Community College graduates make an average of $36,051 annually.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Central Piedmont Community College also is in the top 15% of our Best Schools in North Carolina ranking.
College of the Albemarle ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Schools in North Carolina list. College of the Albemarle is a small public school situated in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. It awarded 612 degrees in 2020-2021.
College of the Albemarle undergraduate students pay an average of $7,346 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,742 in student loans. During the early years of their career, College of the Albemarle graduates make an average of $34,212 annually.
Catawba Valley Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in North Carolina ranking. CVCC is located in Hickory, North Carolina and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,587 degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CVCC are $7,743 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,197 in student loans.After graduating from CVCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $31,199 during the early years of their career.
Wayne Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #15 on the list. Wayne Community College is a small public school located in Goldsboro, North Carolina that handed out 1,658 degrees in 2020-2021.
Wayne Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,668 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $9,969 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Wayne Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $33,473 during the early years of their career.
Lenoir Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Schools in North Carolina list. Kinston, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,051 students in 2020-2021.
Lenoir Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,712 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,256 in student loans.After graduating from Lenoir Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,270 during the early years of their career.
Montgomery Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #17 on the list. MCC is a very small public school situated in Troy, North Carolina. It awarded 260 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MCC are $8,682 per year. On average, students take out $13,407 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, MCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,328 during the early year of their career.
Davidson County Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #18 on the list. Thomasville, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,400 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at DCCC are $7,658 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,075 in student loans.After graduating from DCCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,670 during the early years of their career.
Central Carolina Community College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Central Carolina Community College is a small public school located in Sanford, North Carolina that handed out 981 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Central Carolina Community College are $8,698 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $13,177 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Central Carolina Community College graduates make an average of $30,791 annually.
Haywood Community College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Clyde, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 554 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Haywood Community College are $8,724 per year. On average, students take out $12,587 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Haywood Community College graduates make an average of $28,357 annually.
Mitchell Community College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Statesville, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 865 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Mitchell Community College are $8,795 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $11,870 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Mitchell Community College graduates make an average of $27,286 annually.
Gaston College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. This small public school is located in Dallas, North Carolina, and it awarded 2,915 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Gaston College are $9,006 per year. On average, students take out $12,298 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Gaston College graduates make an average of $32,146 annually.
Cleveland Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in North Carolina ranking. Cleveland Community College is a small public school situated in Shelby, North Carolina. It awarded 840 degrees in 2020-2021.
Cleveland Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,746 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $12,082 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Cleveland Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $31,556 during the early years of their career.
Johnston Community College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Johnston Community College is located in Smithfield, North Carolina and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,382 degrees to qualified students.
Johnston Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,801 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $13,881 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Johnston Community College graduates make an average of $39,166 annually.
Richmond Community College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Richmond Community College is a public institution located in Hamlet, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 764 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Richmond Community College are $8,680 a year. On average, students take out $10,348 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Richmond Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,533 during the early year of their career.
Best Value Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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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