Cheapest colleges in North Carolina
50 colleges ranked by net price after aid
The 50 most affordable four-year colleges in North Carolina have an average net price of $18,335 per year — the typical amount families actually pay after grants and scholarships. Costs run from $7,237 at Elizabeth City State University up to $27,786 at Queens University of Charlotte. 16 are public institutions and 34 are private.
| # | College | Type | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Median earnings (10yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elizabeth City State University Elizabeth City, NC | Public | $7,237 | 70% | $40,026 |
| 2 | Fayetteville State University Fayetteville, NC | Public | $7,360 | 80% | $40,144 |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke, NC | Public | $9,918 | 92% | $43,407 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC | Public | $10,170 | 90% | $48,160 |
| 5 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro, NC | Public | $10,980 | 46% | $44,440 |
| 6 | Carolina Christian College Winston Salem, NC | Private | $11,448 | — | $40,672 |
| 7 | University of North Carolina School of the Arts Winston Salem, NC | Public | $12,372 | 33% | $38,357 |
| 8 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC | Public | $12,579 | 87% | $49,458 |
| 9 | University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville, NC | Public | $12,865 | 94% | $44,030 |
| 10 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | Public | $12,983 | 19% | $72,200 |
| 11 | Winston-Salem State University Winston-Salem, NC | Public | $13,393 | 69% | $45,344 |
| 12 | Shaw University Raleigh, NC | Private | $14,083 | 30% | $34,409 |
| 13 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC | Public | $14,745 | 80% | $57,289 |
| 14 | North Carolina Central University Durham, NC | Public | $15,028 | 90% | $42,968 |
| 15 | Livingstone College Salisbury, NC | Private | $15,662 | 74% | $32,600 |
| 16 | Chowan University Murfreesboro, NC | Private | $16,189 | 72% | $38,412 |
| 17 | Appalachian State University Boone, NC | Public | $16,487 | 89% | $51,836 |
| 18 | East Carolina University Greenville, NC | Public | $16,514 | 90% | $55,146 |
| 19 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC | Public | $16,931 | 40% | $68,758 |
| 20 | Saint Augustine's University Raleigh, NC | Private | $17,740 | 59% | $35,730 |
| 21 | University of Mount Olive Mount Olive, NC | Private | $17,893 | 78% | $47,139 |
| 22 | Davidson College Davidson, NC | Private | $18,127 | 14% | $81,400 |
| 23 | North Carolina Wesleyan University Rocky Mount, NC | Private | $18,165 | 78% | $45,873 |
| 24 | Catawba College Salisbury, NC | Private | $18,210 | 78% | $48,793 |
| 25 | Carolina College of Biblical Studies Fayetteville, NC | Private | $18,745 | — | $24,581 |
| 26 | Salem College Winston-Salem, NC | Private | $18,835 | 87% | $44,640 |
| 27 | Carolina University Winston-Salem, NC | Private | $18,866 | 34% | $32,864 |
| 28 | Greensboro College Greensboro, NC | Private | $19,314 | 92% | $46,566 |
| 29 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington, NC | Public | $19,472 | 74% | $54,967 |
| 30 | Johnson C Smith University Charlotte, NC | Private | $20,011 | 43% | $42,680 |
| 31 | Manna University Fayetteville, NC | Private | $20,170 | 100% | — |
| 32 | Meredith College Raleigh, NC | Private | $20,197 | 75% | $51,539 |
| 33 | Mars Hill University Mars Hill, NC | Private | $20,313 | 78% | $44,781 |
| 34 | Guilford College Greensboro, NC | Private | $21,200 | 84% | $47,590 |
| 35 | Wingate University Wingate, NC | Private | $21,371 | 85% | $52,649 |
| 36 | Brevard College Brevard, NC | Private | $21,376 | 40% | $43,545 |
| 37 | William Peace University Raleigh, NC | Private | $21,728 | 97% | $46,643 |
| 38 | Pfeiffer University Misenheimer, NC | Private | $21,953 | 95% | $51,562 |
| 39 | Bennett College Greensboro, NC | Private | $22,858 | 34% | $36,654 |
| 40 | Lenoir-Rhyne University Hickory, NC | Private | $23,393 | 81% | $45,543 |
| 41 | Belmont Abbey College Belmont, NC | Private | $23,613 | 90% | $47,937 |
| 42 | Barton College Wilson, NC | Private | $23,665 | 96% | $47,913 |
| 43 | Warren Wilson College Swannanoa, NC | Private | $23,719 | 78% | $36,260 |
| 44 | Campbell University Buies Creek, NC | Private | $23,991 | 94% | $54,886 |
| 45 | Gardner-Webb University Boiling Springs, NC | Private | $24,137 | 87% | $48,039 |
| 46 | Methodist University Fayetteville, NC | Private | $24,978 | 75% | $48,050 |
| 47 | Lees-McRae College Banner Elk, NC | Private | $25,765 | 81% | $43,415 |
| 48 | Mid-Atlantic Christian University Elizabeth City, NC | Private | $25,876 | 76% | $38,342 |
| 49 | Montreat College Montreat, NC | Private | $26,328 | 66% | $45,151 |
| 50 | Queens University of Charlotte Charlotte, NC | Private | $27,786 | 68% | $57,673 |
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