2027 Best Value Finance Schools in North Carolina

[Finance](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/finance-financial-management/finance/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value finance schools.
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2027 Best Value Finance Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in finance, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Finance Schools
North Carolina A And T State University earned the #1 spot for value among finance schools in North Carolina. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,813, with out-of-state students paying around $20,673. Students borrow a median of $29,078 to complete the finance program here. Early-career finance graduates make about $50,715. Set against $29,078 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in finance will find it at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro, which ranked #2. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public school located in the city of Greensboro. In-state tuition and fees average $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Finance graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $40,445. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Fayetteville State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in finance, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,353, compared with $8,353 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,869 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of Fayetteville State University earn a median of $41,449 early in their careers. Set against $27,869 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earned it the #4 place for finance. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $22,400. Early-career finance graduates make about $51,628. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Students looking for strong value in finance will find it at Western Carolina University, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,630, while out-of-state students pay about $8,630. Students borrow a median of $23,625 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median of $40,575 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
East Carolina University earned the #6 position for value in finance this year. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. In-state tuition and fees average $7,361, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Finance graduates carry a median of $23,142 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $51,501. Set against $23,142 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Appalachian State University placed #7 among the best values for finance. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public university. 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 finance graduates is $21,267. Finance graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $52,004 early in their careers. Set against $21,267 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #8 spot for finance value this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Finance graduates carry a median of $21,937 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $107,359. That is a strong return on a $21,937 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Gardner Webb University came in at #9 for value in finance this year. Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Boiling Springs. In-state tuition and fees average $34,750. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $25,033. Early-career finance graduates make about $63,220. That is a strong return on a $25,033 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Lenoir Rhyne University earned the #10 position for value in finance this year. Set in the city of Hickory, Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,900. Finance graduates carry a median of $26,900 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $49,985. That is a strong return on a $26,900 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Wingate University placed #11 among the best values for finance. Wingate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wingate. Students from in state pay about $42,576 in tuition and fees. Finance graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Finance graduates of Wingate University earn a median of $46,591 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Campbell University earned the #12 position for value in finance this year. Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Buies Creek. In-state tuition and fees average $41,600. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Campbell University generally make around $60,445. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Campbell University admits about 87% of applicants.
Wake Forest University came in at #13 for value in finance this year. Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,642. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $19,500. Finance graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $85,944 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
Queens University Of Charlotte ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value finance schools. Set in the city of Charlotte, Queens University Of Charlotte is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,846. Students borrow a median of $27,245 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of Queens University Of Charlotte earn a median of $59,654 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,245 median debt. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
High Point University earned the #15 position for value in finance this year. Located in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,312 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $23,785. Early-career finance graduates make about $113,352. Set against $23,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. High Point University admits about 75% of applicants.
Elon University landed the #16 spot for finance value this year. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,958. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $19,500. Finance graduates of Elon University earn a median of $66,614 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Elon University admits about 66% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.