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2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid

39 Ranked Colleges
10,301 Degrees Awarded
$11,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 327,871 education students received their degree, making the major the 4th most popular in the country. In 2019-2020, education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $46,202 and had an average of $24,437 in loans still to pay off.

Across North Carolina, there were 10,301 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,315 and $23,711 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 39 colleges that offer a degree in education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great education programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the education program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for north carolina education students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Education in North Carolina (With Aid)

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a large school located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina that handed out 244 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

UNC Chapel Hill not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” list. It costs about $12,469 for North Carolina Education students with aid per year to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Education at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

2
Appalachian State crest
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Appalachian State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid. Appalachian State University is a large public school situated in Boone, North Carolina. It awarded 808 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Appalachian State, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Appalachian State University is $13,989 for north carolina education students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Appalachian State University Education Report

3
Central Piedmont Community College crest
Central Piedmont Community College
Charlotte, North Carolina

Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Central Piedmont Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. Charlotte, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 195 students in 2020-2021.

Central Piedmont Community College also made our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for Central Piedmont Community College is $5,710 for north carolina education students with aid.

Full Central Piedmont Community College Education Report

4
FTCC crest
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Fayetteville, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Fayetteville Technical Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Fayetteville, North Carolina. It awarded 214 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

FTCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” list. The estimated yearly cost for Fayetteville Technical Community College is $4,337 for north carolina education students with aid.

Full Fayetteville Technical Community College Education Report

5
Stanly Technical College crest
Stanly Community College
Albemarle, North Carolina

Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanly Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Stanly Technical College is a public institution located in Albemarle, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 165 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Stanly Technical College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” list. It costs about $5,533 for north carolina education students with aid per year to attend Stanly Technical College.

Full Stanly Technical College Education Report

6
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College crest
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Salisbury, North Carolina

With a ranking of #6, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is a public institution located in Salisbury, North Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 127 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is $2,602 for North Carolina Education students with aid.

Read more about Education at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

7
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. NC State is a public institution located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 607 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

NC State also made our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend NC State is $16,411 for North Carolina Education students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full NC State Education Report

8
ECU crest
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina

East Carolina University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. ECU is a public institution located in Greenville, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 733 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our north carolina education students with aid list, ECU has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend East Carolina University is $16,550 for north carolina education students with aid.

Full ECU Education Report

9

University of North Carolina at Greensboro ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, this fairly large public school awarded 421 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our north carolina education students with aid list, UNC Greensboro has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $11,629 for North Carolina Education students with aid per year to attend University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Full UNC Greensboro Education Report

10
Vance-Granville Community College crest
Vance-Granville Community College
Henderson, North Carolina

With a ranking of #10, Vance-Granville Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Henderson, North Carolina, this small public school handed out 30 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Vance-Granville Community College is $3,283 for north carolina education students with aid.

Read full report on Education at Vance-Granville Community College

11
Fayetteville State University crest
Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Fayetteville State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. Fayetteville State University is a medium-sized school located in Fayetteville, North Carolina that handed out 83 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $6,969 for North Carolina Education students with aid per year to attend Fayetteville State University.

Full Fayetteville State University Education Report

12
ECSU crest
Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, North Carolina

With a ranking of #12, Elizabeth City State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. ECSU is a small public school situated in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. It awarded 28 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $3,704 for north carolina education students with aid per year to attend Elizabeth City State University.

Full ECSU Education Report

13
Wake Technical Community College crest
Wake Technical Community College
Raleigh, North Carolina

With a ranking of #13, Wake Technical Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, this large public school awarded 213 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $6,767 for north carolina education students with aid per year to attend Wake Technical Community College.

Read more about Education at Wake Technical Community College

14
NC A&T crest
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, North Carolina

With a ranking of #14, North Carolina A & T State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. Greensboro, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 180 students in 2020-2021.

NC A&T also made our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” list, coming in at #20. The yearly cost to attend North Carolina A & T State University is $10,563 for North Carolina Education students with aid.

Read full report on Education at North Carolina A & T State University

15
Pitt Community College crest
Pitt Community College
Winterville, North Carolina

Pitt Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Pitt Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Winterville, North Carolina. It awarded 184 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Pitt Community College is $4,192 for north carolina education students with aid.

Read full report on Education at Pitt Community College

16
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

Duke University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Durham, North Carolina, and it awarded 135 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our north carolina education students with aid list, Duke has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $32,459 for north carolina education students with aid per year to attend Duke University.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Duke Education Report

17
Haywood Community College crest
Haywood Community College
Clyde, North Carolina

Haywood Community College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid ranking. Haywood Community College is located in Clyde, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 101 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Haywood Community College is $6,940 for north carolina education students with aid.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Education at Haywood Community College

18

University of North Carolina at Charlotte ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, this large public school handed out 914 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.

UNC Charlotte did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” list. It costs about $17,634 for North Carolina Education students with aid per year to attend UNC Charlotte.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Education at UNC Charlotte

19

University of North Carolina at Pembroke ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. University of North Carolina at Pembroke is located in Pembroke, North Carolina and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 240 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

UNC Pembroke also took the #21 spot in our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Pembroke is $10,792 for north carolina education students with aid.

Read more about Education at University of North Carolina at Pembroke

20
WCU crest
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, North Carolina

Western Carolina University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. Western Carolina University is located in Cullowhee, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 351 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our north carolina education students with aid list, WCU has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $13,924 for north carolina education students with aid per year to attend Western Carolina University.

Full WCU Education Report

21
Guilford Technical Community College crest
Guilford Technical Community College
Jamestown, North Carolina

Guilford Technical Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid ranking. Guilford Technical Community College is located in Jamestown, North Carolina and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 157 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Guilford Technical Community College is $10,898 for North Carolina Education students with aid.

Read full report on Education at Guilford Technical Community College

22
WSSU crest
Winston - Salem State University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Winston - Salem State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid ranking. WSSU is a medium-sized school located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that handed out 45 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

WSSU also took the #24 spot in our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WSSU is $12,415 for north carolina education students with aid.

Read more about Education at Winston - Salem State University

23

University of North Carolina at Wilmington ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. UNCW is a fairly large school located in Wilmington, North Carolina that handed out 427 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

UNCW did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” list. It costs about $19,136 for north carolina education students with aid per year to attend UNCW.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Education at UNCW

24
Wake Forest University crest
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Wake Forest University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #24. Winston-Salem, North Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 120 students in 2020-2021.

Wake Forest University also made our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $32,845 for north carolina education students with aid per year to attend Wake Forest University.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Education at Wake Forest University

25
North Carolina Central University crest
North Carolina Central University
Durham, North Carolina

North Carolina Central University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. North Carolina Central University is a medium-sized public school situated in Durham, North Carolina. It awarded 100 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

North Carolina Central University also made our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” list, coming in at #23. The yearly cost to attend North Carolina Central University is $14,332 for North Carolina Education students with aid.

Read full report on Education at North Carolina Central University

Notes and References

References

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