2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina
39
Ranked Colleges
10,301
Degrees Awarded
$10,800
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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” ranking is part of that endeavor.
With 327,871 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, education is the 4th most popular major in the United States. 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.
This year’s “Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking looked at 39 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in education. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent education programs, but they also 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
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” 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
The colleges and universities below are the best for north carolina education students.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Education in North Carolina
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Appalachian State University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina list. Appalachian State University is located in Boone, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 808 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
Appalachian State also made our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $13,989 for north carolina education students per year to attend Appalachian State University.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Appalachian State University Education Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend East Carolina University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina. This large school is located in Greenville, North Carolina, and it awarded 733 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at ECU, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $16,550 for North Carolina Education students per year to attend ECU.
Full ECU Education Report
Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, North Carolina State University landed the #3 spot on the list. North Carolina State University is a large school located in Raleigh, North Carolina that handed out 607 ’s education 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.
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.
Read more about Education at North Carolina State University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanly Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina list. Located in Albemarle, North Carolina, this small public school awarded 165 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our north carolina education students list, Stanly Technical College has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $5,533 for North Carolina Education students per year to attend Stanly Technical College.
Read full report on Education at Stanly Technical College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Central Piedmont Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina. Central Piedmont Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Charlotte, North Carolina. It awarded 195 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Central Piedmont Community College, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Central Piedmont Community College is $5,710 for North Carolina Education students.
Full Central Piedmont Community College Education Report
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina ranking. This large school is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and it awarded 244 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
UNC Chapel Hill also took the #4 spot in our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNC Chapel Hill is $12,469 for north carolina education students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full UNC Chapel Hill Education Report
University of North Carolina at Greensboro came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina ranking. Greensboro, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 421 students in 2020-2021.
UNC Greensboro not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Greensboro is $11,629 for north carolina education students.
Read more about Education at University of North Carolina at Greensboro
With a ranking of #8, University of North Carolina at Charlotte did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina list. University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a large school located in Charlotte, North Carolina that handed out 914 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
UNC Charlotte also took the #7 spot in our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Charlotte is $17,634 for North Carolina Education students.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Education at UNC Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Wilmington ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina list. UNCW is a public institution located in Wilmington, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 427 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UNCW also made our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for UNCW is $19,136 for north carolina education students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Education at University of North Carolina at Wilmington
With a ranking of #10, Fayetteville Technical Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina list. Fayetteville, North Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 214 students in 2020-2021.
FTCC also took the #19 spot in our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend FTCC is $4,337 for north carolina education students.
Read full report on Education at Fayetteville Technical Community College
Western Carolina University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina ranking. WCU is a fairly large school located in Cullowhee, North Carolina that handed out 351 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
WCU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” list. The estimated yearly cost for Western Carolina University is $13,924 for north carolina education students.
Read more about Education at Western Carolina University
North Carolina A & T State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina list. NC A&T is a public institution located in Greensboro, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 180 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our north carolina education students list, NC A&T has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Carolina A & T State University is $10,563 for north carolina education students.
Read full report on Education at NC A&T
University of North Carolina at Pembroke did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #13. This medium-sized school is located in Pembroke, North Carolina, and it awarded 240 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
UNC Pembroke did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” list. The yearly cost to attend UNC Pembroke is $10,792 for north carolina education students.
Read full report on Education at University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #14. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is located in Salisbury, North Carolina and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 127 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is $2,602 for North Carolina Education students.
Read full report on Education at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
With a ranking of #15, Vance-Granville Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina list. Located in Henderson, North Carolina, this small public school awarded 30 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $3,283 for North Carolina Education students per year to attend Vance-Granville Community College.
Read more about Education at Vance-Granville Community College
Guilford Technical Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Jamestown, North Carolina, this medium-sized public school handed out 157 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $10,898 for north carolina education students per year to attend Guilford Technical Community College.
Read more about Education at Guilford Technical Community College
Wake Technical Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina ranking. This large school is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it awarded 213 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Wake Technical Community College is $6,767 for north carolina education students.
Read full report on Education at Wake Technical Community College
Pitt Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #18. Pitt Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Winterville, North Carolina. It awarded 184 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $4,192 for North Carolina Education students per year to attend Pitt Community College.
Read more about Education at Pitt Community College
North Carolina Central University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina ranking. Durham, North Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 100 students in 2020-2021.
North Carolina Central University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” list. The estimated yearly cost for North Carolina Central University is $14,332 for North Carolina Education students.
Full North Carolina Central University Education Report
With a ranking of #20, Fayetteville State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina list. Located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, this medium-sized public school awarded 83 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Fayetteville State University is $6,969 for north carolina education students.
Read full report on Education at Fayetteville State University
Haywood Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina list. Located in Clyde, North Carolina, this small public school handed out 101 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Haywood Community College is $6,940 for north carolina education students.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Education at Haywood Community College
With a ranking of #22, Gardner - Webb University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina list. Gardner - Webb University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. It awarded 340 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Gardner - Webb, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Gardner - Webb University is $20,776 for North Carolina Education students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Education at Gardner - Webb
Winston - Salem State University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina ranking. WSSU is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 45 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
WSSU also made our “Best Education Schools in North Carolina” list, coming in at #24. The estimated yearly cost for Winston - Salem State University is $12,415 for north carolina education students.
Full WSSU Education Report
Elizabeth City State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina ranking. Elizabeth City, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 28 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for ECSU is $3,704 for North Carolina Education students.
Read more about Education at ECSU
Salem College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #25. Salem is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It awarded 33 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Salem College is $18,339 for north carolina education students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Salem College Education Report
