2026 Best Value Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Schools in North Carolina
[Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/ecology-evolution-systematics-population-biology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong ecology, evolution & systematics biology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for ecology, evolution & systematics biology students.
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2026 Best Value Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in ecology, evolution & systematics biology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Schools
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill tops our 2026 list of the best value ecology, evolution & systematics biology schools in North Carolina. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for ecology, evolution & systematics biology graduates is $15,117. Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $80,276 early in their careers. Set against $15,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of North Carolina At Wilmington one of the best values for ecology, evolution & systematics biology. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,277, with out-of-state students paying around $24,152. Typical student debt for ecology, evolution & systematics biology graduates is $20,389. Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology graduates of University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn a median of $25,303 early in their careers. Set against $20,389 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Warren Wilson College earned it the #3 place for ecology, evolution & systematics biology. Warren Wilson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Swannanoa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,500. Median earnings reach $36,260 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 71%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
