2026 Best Value Artificial Intelligence Schools in North Carolina
[Artificial Intelligence](/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-information-systems-cis/artificial-intelligence/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong artificial intelligence education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find the best return on investment for artificial intelligence students.
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2026 Best Value Artificial Intelligence Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in artificial intelligence, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Artificial Intelligence Schools
For return on investment in artificial intelligence, no school beat Central Piedmont Community College this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Typical student debt for artificial intelligence graduates is $10,456. Artificial Intelligence graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $40,629 early in their careers. Set against $10,456 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wayne Community College earned it the #2 place for artificial intelligence. Set in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,566 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,710 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for artificial intelligence graduates is $5,500. Artificial Intelligence graduates of Wayne Community College earn a median of $33,116 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Duke University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value artificial intelligence schools. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,758. Artificial Intelligence graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans. Artificial Intelligence graduates of Duke University earn a median of $83,388 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Duke University admits about 6% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 3 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.
