2027 Best Value General Education Schools in North Carolina

[General Education](/majors/education/general-education/education-general/) 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general education students.
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2027 Best Value General Education Schools in North Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Education Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill the best value for a degree in general education in North Carolina. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. General Education graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. General Education graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $67,996 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,117 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #2. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $22,113. Early-career general education graduates make about $59,622. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Davidson College earned it the #3 place for general education. Set in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $64,430 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $19,906. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Davidson College generally make around $41,505. Set against $19,906 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Davidson College admits about 13% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at Western Carolina University, which ranked #4. Western Carolina University is a large public school located in the town of Cullowhee. In-state tuition and fees average $4,630, while out-of-state students pay about $8,630. General Education graduates carry a median of $24,174 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Western Carolina University generally make around $47,964. That is a strong return on a $24,174 median debt. Western Carolina University admits about 82% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of North Carolina At Wilmington one of the best values for general education. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,277 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,152 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $23,013. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $45,465. Set against $23,013 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington admits about 64% of applicants.
Wingate University placed #6 among the best values for general education. Located in the suburb of Wingate, Wingate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,576. Students borrow a median of $25,556 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Wingate University generally make around $53,836. That is a strong return on a $25,556 median debt. Wingate University admits about 91% of applicants.
Campbell University landed the #7 spot for general education value this year. Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Buies Creek. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,600. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Campbell University generally make around $54,629. Set against $18,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Campbell University admits about 87% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.