2027 Best Value General Biology Schools in North Carolina
[General Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/general-biology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 39 schools to find the best return on investment for general biology students.
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2027 Best Value General Biology Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general biology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Biology Schools
For return on investment in general biology, no school beat University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Students borrow a median of $15,100 to complete the general biology program here. Early-career general biology graduates make about $33,471. Set against $15,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value general biology schools. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public school located in the city of Greensboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,661, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $26,914. Early-career general biology graduates make about $31,922. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general biology will find it at University Of North Carolina At Asheville, which ranked #3. University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Asheville. Students from in state pay about $7,501 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,849. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the general biology program here. Early-career general biology graduates make about $27,943. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Students looking for strong value in general biology will find it at Fayetteville State University, which ranked #4. Fayetteville State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Students from in state pay about $4,353 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,353. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the general biology program here. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Fayetteville State University generally make around $28,332. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Fayetteville State University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value general biology schools. Set in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,648, with out-of-state students paying around $7,648. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general biology program here. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Pembroke generally make around $30,147. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke admits about 93% of applicants.
Elizabeth City State University came in at #6 for value in general biology this year. Located in the town of Elizabeth City, Elizabeth City State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,536, compared with $10,536 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $26,992. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Elizabeth City State University generally make around $28,300. Set against $26,992 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Western Carolina University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value general biology schools. Western Carolina University is a large public school located in the town of Cullowhee. Students from in state pay about $4,630 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,630 for out-of-state students. General Biology graduates carry a median of $26,037 in student loans. Early-career general biology graduates make about $28,381. Set against $26,037 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte landed the #8 spot for general biology value this year. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,239, with out-of-state students paying around $22,492. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $26,000. General Biology graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $34,094 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina A And T State University earned the #9 position for value in general biology this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,813 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,673. Students borrow a median of $28,358 to complete the general biology program here. General Biology graduates of North Carolina A And T State University earn a median of $36,950 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,358 median debt. The acceptance rate is 50%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #10 among the best values for general biology. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the general biology program here. Early-career general biology graduates make about $36,157. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
Davidson College came in at #11 for value in general biology this year. Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Davidson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,430. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the general biology program here. Early-career general biology graduates make about $39,602. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 13%.
Appalachian State University placed #12 among the best values for general biology. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,579, compared with $25,212 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $23,000. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $35,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
East Carolina University placed #13 among the best values for general biology. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,361, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. General Biology graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career general biology graduates make about $38,992. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Winston Salem State University landed the #14 spot for general biology value this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Winston Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,126 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,782. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $27,446. General Biology graduates of Winston Salem State University earn a median of $30,719 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,446 median debt. Winston Salem State University admits about 78% of applicants.
North Carolina Central University earned the #15 position for value in general biology this year. North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,699, compared with $19,735 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $30,420. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from North Carolina Central University generally make around $30,423. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Carolina Central University admits about 87% of applicants.
North Carolina Wesleyan College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value general biology schools. Set in the city of Rocky Mount, North Carolina Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,586. Students borrow a median of $26,713 to complete the general biology program here. Early-career general biology graduates make about $40,202. Set against $26,713 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Carolina Wesleyan College admits about 80% of applicants.
Gardner Webb University came in at #17 for value in general biology this year. Located in the rural area of Boiling Springs, Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,750 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $27,000. General Biology graduates of Gardner Webb University earn a median of $63,220 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Gardner Webb University admits about 77% of applicants.
Greensboro College landed the #18 spot for general biology value this year. Greensboro College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Greensboro. Students from in state pay about $21,000 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $33,915 to complete the general biology program here. General Biology graduates of Greensboro College earn a median of $38,134 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $33,915 median debt. Greensboro College admits about 70% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value general biology schools. 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 general biology graduates is $22,125. General Biology graduates of University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn a median of $32,925 early in their careers. Set against $22,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Catawba College landed the #20 spot for general biology value this year. Located in the suburb of Salisbury, Catawba College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,300. General Biology graduates carry a median of $25,931 in student loans. Early-career general biology graduates make about $37,894. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Pfeiffer University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value general biology schools. Set in the rural area of Misenheimer, Pfeiffer University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $35,070 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $26,375. Early-career general biology graduates make about $54,891. That is a strong return on a $26,375 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Mount Olive College placed #22 among the best values for general biology. Located in the rural area of Mount Olive, Mount Olive College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,366. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Mount Olive College generally make around $29,467. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Lenoir Rhyne University placed #23 among the best values for general biology. Set in the city of Hickory, Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,900. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $27,000. General Biology graduates of Lenoir Rhyne University earn a median of $49,985 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Wingate University landed the #24 spot for general biology value this year. Located in the suburb of Wingate, Wingate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,576. General Biology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. General Biology graduates of Wingate University earn a median of $27,729 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Warren Wilson College earned the #25 position for value in general biology this year. Set in the rural area of Swannanoa, Warren Wilson College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,500 in tuition and fees. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $36,260. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 39 Best Value General Biology Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for general biology this year:
More General Biology Rankings
View All General Biology Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 39 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.
