2026 Best Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools in North Carolina
Higher Education/Higher Education Administration degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their higher education/higher education administration programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools to find the best for higher education/higher education administration students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Higher Education/Higher Education Administration in North Carolina
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the higher education/higher education administration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Higher Education/Higher Education Administration
Elon University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in higher education/higher education administration. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Elon. About 84% of students finish within six years. Elon University awarded about 11 higher education/higher education administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the higher education/higher education administration program make about $50,463 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,619.
See the full higher education/higher education administration program report for Elon University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in higher education/higher education administration, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 16 higher education/higher education administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the higher education/higher education administration program make about $78,549 in their early career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $22,113 in student loans.
Read more about the higher education/higher education administration program at North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Appalachian State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best higher education/higher education administration schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Boone. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 41 higher education/higher education administration degrees were awarded at Appalachian State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the higher education/higher education administration program make about $69,507 in their early career. Appalachian State University graduates carry a median of $21,992 in student loans.
See the full higher education/higher education administration program report for Appalachian State University
A rank of #4 makes University Of North Carolina At Greensboro one of the top schools for higher education/higher education administration. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public university. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 21 higher education/higher education administration degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro in the most recent year. Graduates of the higher education/higher education administration program make about $75,462 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,977.
See the full higher education/higher education administration program report for University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Wingate University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best higher education/higher education administration schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Wingate. Wingate University graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 higher education/higher education administration students who graduated with this degree at Wingate University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Wingate University generally make around $82,174. Students borrow a median of $25,556 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in higher education/higher education administration from Wingate University
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 9 schools evaluated.
- 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.
