Ranking

Cheapest Colleges in North Carolina 2026

The lowest-net-price colleges in North Carolina that report federal earnings.

Schools ranked: 25
Cheapest net price: $1,664
Top earnings 10y: $40,144
Public / Private: 25 / 0

Durham Technical Community College

A+

Durham, NC · Public

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

Johnston Community College

A+

Smithfield, NC · Public

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

Rockingham Community College

A+

Wentworth, NC · Public

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

College of the Albemarle

A+

Elizabeth City, NC · Public

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

Robeson Community College

A+

Lumberton, NC · Public

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

Wilson Community College

A+

Wilson, NC · Public

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

Vance-Granville Community College

A+

Henderson, NC · Public

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

Craven Community College

A+

New Bern, NC · Public

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

Central Piedmont Community College

A+

Charlotte, NC · Public

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

#10

Sandhills Community College

A+

Pinehurst, NC · Public

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

#11

Southwestern Community College

A+

Sylva, NC · Public

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

#12

Central Carolina Community College

Sanford, NC · Public

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

#13

Roanoke-Chowan Community College

Ahoskie, NC · Public

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

#14

Mayland Community College

Spruce Pine, NC · Public

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

#15

Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City, NC · Public

Net price/yr: $6,364
Net price: $6,364
Earnings 10y: $40,026
Acceptance: 64.2%

#16

Western Piedmont Community College

Morganton, NC · Public

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

#17

Mitchell Community College

Statesville, NC · Public

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

#18

South Piedmont Community College

Polkton, NC · Public

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

#19

Haywood Community College

Clyde, NC · Public

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

#20

Forsyth Technical Community College

Winston-Salem, NC · Public

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

#21

McDowell Technical Community College

Marion, NC · Public

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

#22

Tri-County Community College

Murphy, NC · Public

Net price/yr: $7,799
Net price: $7,799
Earnings 10y: $32,232
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#23

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville, NC · Public

Net price/yr: $7,892
Net price: $7,892
Earnings 10y: $40,144
Acceptance: 82.2%

#24

Brunswick Community College

Bolivia, NC · Public

Net price/yr: $9,009
Net price: $9,009
Earnings 10y: $36,668
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#25

Halifax Community College

Weldon, NC · Public

Net price/yr: $9,040
Net price: $9,040
Earnings 10y: $31,644
Acceptance: Open / not reported

How we picked this list

This list starts with North Carolina colleges, removes schools without usable net-price data, then sorts from lowest average net price upward. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 21.10 (25 public, 0 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. Average net price is $1,664 per year.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by net price/yr 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.