2026 Best Value Value Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
Central Carolina Community College earned the #1 spot for value among value schools in North Carolina. Set in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,711 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,855. Typical student debt for value graduates is $9,899. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Central Carolina Community College generally make around $37,915. That is a strong return on a $9,899 median debt.
Nash Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the rural area of Rocky Mount, Nash Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,866, while out-of-state students pay about $8,866. Students borrow a median of $16,969 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Nash Community College generally make around $45,512. Set against $16,969 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cape Fear Community College earned it the #3 place for value. Located in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,748, compared with $8,892 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $12,388. Early-career value graduates make about $42,889. That is a strong return on a $12,388 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Gaston College, which ranked #4. Gaston College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Dallas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,186, compared with $9,330 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Gaston College generally make around $35,658. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Set in the city of Asheville, Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,882, compared with $9,026 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,883 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $36,095. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Value](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/veterinary-animal-health-technologies/veterinary-animal-health-technology-technician-and-veterinary-assistant/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
