Ranking

Best Colleges in North Carolina by ROI 2026

The top-value North Carolina colleges — graduate earnings against net price, from federal data.

Schools ranked: 25
Cheapest net price: $1,664
Top earnings 10y: $81,400
Public / Private: 24 / 1

Durham Technical Community College

A+

Durham, NC · Public

ROI score: 54.30
Net price: $1,664
Earnings 10y: $36,142
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Johnston Community College

A+

Smithfield, NC · Public

ROI score: 52.52
Net price: $1,776
Earnings 10y: $37,310
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Rockingham Community College

A+

Wentworth, NC · Public

ROI score: 39.42
Net price: $2,060
Earnings 10y: $32,480
Acceptance: Open / not reported

College of the Albemarle

A+

Elizabeth City, NC · Public

ROI score: 36.88
Net price: $2,253
Earnings 10y: $33,234
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Central Piedmont Community College

A+

Charlotte, NC · Public

ROI score: 28.30
Net price: $3,345
Earnings 10y: $37,865
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Wilson Community College

A+

Wilson, NC · Public

ROI score: 26.90
Net price: $3,064
Earnings 10y: $32,973
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Vance-Granville Community College

A+

Henderson, NC · Public

ROI score: 26.10
Net price: $3,286
Earnings 10y: $34,304
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Craven Community College

A+

New Bern, NC · Public

ROI score: 26.02
Net price: $3,289
Earnings 10y: $34,231
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Robeson Community College

A+

Lumberton, NC · Public

ROI score: 25.10
Net price: $2,892
Earnings 10y: $29,036
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#10

Sandhills Community College

A+

Pinehurst, NC · Public

ROI score: 19.04
Net price: $4,157
Earnings 10y: $31,656
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#11

Southwestern Community College

A+

Sylva, NC · Public

ROI score: 16.39
Net price: $5,207
Earnings 10y: $34,145
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#12

Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City, NC · Public

ROI score: 15.72
Net price: $6,364
Earnings 10y: $40,026
Acceptance: 64.2%

#13

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC · Public

ROI score: 15.49
Net price: $11,655
Earnings 10y: $72,200
Acceptance: 15.3%

#14

Central Carolina Community College

Sanford, NC · Public

ROI score: 15.39
Net price: $5,446
Earnings 10y: $33,525
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#15

Mayland Community College

Spruce Pine, NC · Public

ROI score: 14.79
Net price: $5,861
Earnings 10y: $34,663
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#16

South Piedmont Community College

Polkton, NC · Public

ROI score: 13.97
Net price: $6,675
Earnings 10y: $37,308
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#17

Western Piedmont Community College

Morganton, NC · Public

ROI score: 13.26
Net price: $6,448
Earnings 10y: $34,195
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#18

Roanoke-Chowan Community College

Ahoskie, NC · Public

ROI score: 13.16
Net price: $5,570
Earnings 10y: $29,324
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#19

Haywood Community College

Clyde, NC · Public

ROI score: 12.93
Net price: $6,723
Earnings 10y: $34,770
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#20

Mitchell Community College

Statesville, NC · Public

ROI score: 12.84
Net price: $6,481
Earnings 10y: $33,298
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#21

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville, NC · Public

ROI score: 12.72
Net price: $7,892
Earnings 10y: $40,144
Acceptance: 82.2%

#22

Forsyth Technical Community College

Winston-Salem, NC · Public

ROI score: 11.85
Net price: $7,200
Earnings 10y: $34,139
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#23

Davidson College

Davidson, NC · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 11.71
Net price: $17,379
Earnings 10y: $81,400
Acceptance: 13.4%

#24

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, NC · Public

ROI score: 10.98
Net price: $10,965
Earnings 10y: $48,160
Acceptance: 88.5%

#25

McDowell Technical Community College

Marion, NC · Public

ROI score: 10.61
Net price: $7,784
Earnings 10y: $33,035
Acceptance: Open / not reported

How we picked this list

This list starts with North Carolina colleges, then sorts by EduGradify's school-wide ROI proxy: ten-year median earnings weighed against average net price. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 21.46 (24 public, 1 private).

Every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. See our full methodology for the formulas.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

Durham Technical Community College in Durham, NC tops this ranking. EduGradify value grade is A+.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by roi score using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

How many North Carolina colleges are in this list?

90 North Carolina colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.