Ranking

Best Journalism Colleges in North Carolina 2026

Appalachian State University leads this ROI ranking with a B value grade and a 7.70 ROI score. EduGradify ranks 8 colleges here by earnings against net price.

8 North Carolina colleges offering Journalism, ranked by EduGradify value grade.

Schools ranked: 8
Cheapest net price: $16,836
Top earnings 10y: $74,545
Public / Private: 1 / 7

Appalachian State University

Boone, NC · Public

ROI score: 7.70
Net price: $16,836
Earnings 10y: $51,836
Acceptance: 90.1%

Gardner-Webb University

Boiling Springs, NC · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.80
Net price: $17,674
Earnings 10y: $48,039
Acceptance: 77.2%

Wingate University

Wingate, NC · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.34
Net price: $20,748
Earnings 10y: $52,649
Acceptance: 91.1%

Campbell University

Buies Creek, NC · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.60
Net price: $24,516
Earnings 10y: $54,886
Acceptance: 87.2%

Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte, NC · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 4.67
Net price: $30,857
Earnings 10y: $57,673
Acceptance: 62.1%

Elon University

Elon, NC · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 4.48
Net price: $41,555
Earnings 10y: $74,545
Acceptance: 66.4%

High Point University

High Point, NC · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 3.96
Net price: $38,707
Earnings 10y: $61,389
Acceptance: 75.3%

Bennett College

Greensboro, NC · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 3.24
Net price: $28,299
Earnings 10y: $36,654
Acceptance: 50.7%

How we picked this list

This list starts with North Carolina schools with positive Journalism program-share evidence, 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 5.35 (1 public, 7 private).

Source transparency: every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard public data set. See our full methodology for the ROI formula, value grade rules and missing-data handling.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

Appalachian State University in Boone, NC tops this ranking. EduGradify value grade is B.

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?

8 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.

Can I use this ranking as a final college decision?

Use it as a shortlist, not a final decision. The ranking compares school-wide federal data; you should still confirm program fit, aid letters, graduation path, transfer policies and current costs with each college.