2026 Best Value Educational Administration Schools in North Carolina
[Educational Administration](/majors/education/educational-administration/) 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 46 schools to find the best return on investment for educational administration students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Educational Administration Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in educational administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Educational Administration Schools
Central Piedmont Community College earned the #1 spot for value among educational administration schools in North Carolina. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $40,629. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in educational administration will find it at Fayetteville Technical Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,628 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,772. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $16,909. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $40,584. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stanly Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value educational administration schools. Set in the town of Albemarle, Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,672 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,816. Educational Administration graduates of Stanly Community College earn a median of $41,920 early in their careers.
Students looking for strong value in educational administration will find it at Johnston Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,756, compared with $8,900 for out-of-state students. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $9,490 in student loans. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from Johnston Community College generally make around $37,472. That is a strong return on a $9,490 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Haywood Community College one of the best values for educational administration. Set in the rural area of Clyde, Haywood Community College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,580, while out-of-state students pay about $8,724. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $35,767.
Fayetteville State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value educational administration schools. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,353, with out-of-state students paying around $8,353. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $27,869. Educational Administration graduates of Fayetteville State University earn a median of $63,764 early in their careers. Set against $27,869 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke landed the #7 spot for educational administration value this year. Located in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,648, while out-of-state students pay about $7,648. Students borrow a median of $27,089 to complete the educational administration program here. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Pembroke generally make around $64,928. That is a strong return on a $27,089 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #8 among the best values for educational administration. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $15,117. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $67,864. Set against $15,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earned the #9 position for value in educational administration this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $24,977. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $75,462. That is a strong return on a $24,977 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Western Carolina University earned the #10 position for value in educational administration this year. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,630 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,630. Students borrow a median of $24,174 to complete the educational administration program here. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $66,432. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #11 for value in educational administration this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,239, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $24,673. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $67,597. That is a strong return on a $24,673 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina A And T State University came in at #12 for value in educational administration this year. North Carolina A And T State University is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. Students from in state pay about $6,813 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,673 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $29,078. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $54,600. Set against $29,078 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Appalachian State University landed the #13 spot for educational administration value this year. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,579, compared with $25,212 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $21,992. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $69,507. Set against $21,992 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina Central University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value educational administration schools. 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. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $31,173 in student loans. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $65,158. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
East Carolina University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value educational administration schools. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,361, with out-of-state students paying around $23,638. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $24,747 in student loans. Educational Administration graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $76,032 early in their careers. Set against $24,747 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. East Carolina University admits about 89% of applicants.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #16 position for value in educational administration this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $22,113 in student loans. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $78,549. That is a strong return on a $22,113 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Alamance Community College earned the #17 position for value in educational administration this year. Alamance Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Graham. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,592, while out-of-state students pay about $8,736. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete the educational administration program here. Educational Administration graduates of Alamance Community College earn a median of $37,585 early in their careers. Set against $6,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington came in at #18 for value in educational administration this year. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. Students from in state pay about $7,277 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,152. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $23,013. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $69,402. Set against $23,013 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Wingate University earned the #19 position for value in educational administration this year. Set in the suburb of Wingate, Wingate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,576. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $25,556 in student loans. Educational Administration graduates of Wingate University earn a median of $82,174 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,556 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Campbell University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value educational administration schools. Set in the town of Buies Creek, Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,600. Students borrow a median of $23,641 to complete the educational administration program here. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $54,629. That is a strong return on a $23,641 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Gardner Webb University came in at #21 for value in educational administration this year. Located in the rural area of Boiling Springs, Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,750. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans. Educational Administration graduates of Gardner Webb University earn a median of $70,840 early in their careers. Set against $25,033 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Gardner Webb University admits about 77% of applicants.
Queens University Of Charlotte came in at #22 for value in educational administration this year. Queens University Of Charlotte is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charlotte. In-state tuition and fees average $45,846. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $27,245. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $62,292. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Queens University Of Charlotte admits about 62% of applicants.
High Point University placed #23 among the best values for educational administration. High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of High Point. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,312. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $23,785 in student loans. Educational Administration graduates of High Point University earn a median of $113,352 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,785 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Elon University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value educational administration schools. Set in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $46,958 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,619 to complete the educational administration program here. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $50,463. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
More Educational Administration Rankings
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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 · 46 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
