2027 Best Education Schools in North Carolina
Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 78 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for education students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Education 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 education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Education
Duke University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in education. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. There were roughly 95 education students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Duke University earn around $55,601 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full education details for Duke University
Students looking for a strong education program will find one at Elon University, which ranked #2. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. About 84% of students finish within six years. Elon University awarded about 72 education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $47,095 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
More information about a degree in education from Elon University
Davidson College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Davidson. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 education students who graduated with this degree at Davidson College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Davidson College generally make around $41,505. Davidson College graduates carry a median of $19,906 in student loans.
See the full education program report for Davidson College
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in education, ranking #4. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 226 education students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $41,262 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,640.
See the full education program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
High Point University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in education, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. High Point University graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 151 education students who graduated with this degree at High Point University in the most recent data year. Education graduates of High Point University earn a median of $113,352 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full education details for High Point University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #6 position for education this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 594 education degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $52,963. Typical student debt for the program is $24,582.
See the full education program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 946 education students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent data year. Education graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $50,001 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,909 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in education from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
Appalachian State University placed #8 among the best education schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Boone. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 654 education degrees were awarded at Appalachian State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their education degree from Appalachian State University earn around $45,207 in the first couple years of their career. Appalachian State University graduates carry a median of $22,161 in student loans.
Get the full education details for Appalachian State University
East Carolina University landed the #9 spot for education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Greenville. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 573 education degrees were awarded at East Carolina University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $50,295. East Carolina University graduates carry a median of $25,832 in student loans.
More information about a degree in education from East Carolina University
Wake Forest University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Wake Forest University graduates 89% of students within six years. Wake Forest University awarded about 177 education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $45,173. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
See the full education program report for Wake Forest University
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earned the #11 position for education this year. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington awarded about 309 education degrees in the most recent data year. Education graduates of University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn a median of $46,990 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington graduates carry a median of $19,737 in student loans.
Read more about the education program at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
Queens University Of Charlotte ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. Set in the city of Charlotte, Queens University Of Charlotte is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 education degrees were awarded at Queens University Of Charlotte in the most recent year. Graduates of the education program make about $62,292 in their early career. Queens University Of Charlotte graduates carry a median of $27,245 in student loans.
Get the full education details for Queens University Of Charlotte
Rowan Cabarrus Community College came in at #13 for education this year. Set in the suburb of Salisbury, Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 91 education degrees were awarded at Rowan Cabarrus Community College in the most recent year. Education graduates of Rowan Cabarrus Community College earn a median of $24,323 early in their careers. Rowan Cabarrus Community College graduates carry a median of $7,000 in student loans.
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Stanly Community College came in at #14 for education this year. Set in the town of Albemarle, Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Stanly Community College awarded about 141 education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $32,147 in their early career.
See the full education program report for Stanly Community College
Western Carolina University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. This large public university is located in the town of Cullowhee. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 313 education students who graduated with this degree at Western Carolina University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Western Carolina University earn around $44,613 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,594.
Get the full education details for Western Carolina University
Central Piedmont Community College earned the #16 position for education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Charlotte. There were roughly 336 education students who graduated with this degree at Central Piedmont Community College in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $23,865 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,500.
See the full education program report for Central Piedmont Community College
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro placed #17 among the best education schools. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro awarded about 372 education degrees in the most recent data year. Education graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $45,583 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,470.
More information about a degree in education from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Greensboro College earned the #18 position for education this year. Greensboro College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Greensboro. Greensboro College graduates 46% of students within six years. Greensboro College awarded about 58 education degrees in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Greensboro College earn a median of $43,963 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $47,745 to complete this degree.
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Gardner Webb University landed the #19 spot for education this year. Set in the rural area of Boiling Springs, Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Gardner Webb University awarded about 262 education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $62,387 in their early career. Gardner Webb University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full education program report for Gardner Webb University
Durham Technical Community College landed the #20 spot for education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Durham. Durham Technical Community College awarded about 60 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Durham Technical Community College earn around $33,260 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,522 to complete this degree.
See the full education program report for Durham Technical Community College
Lenoir Community College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. Lenoir Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Kinston. There were roughly 32 education students who graduated with this degree at Lenoir Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Lenoir Community College earn around $27,534 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,984 to complete this degree.
Read more about the education program at Lenoir Community College
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Pembroke. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke graduates 44% of students within six years. There were roughly 424 education students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Pembroke in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earn around $48,709 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,252 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in education from University Of North Carolina At Pembroke
South Piedmont Community College earned the #23 position for education this year. Set in the rural area of Polkton, South Piedmont Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. South Piedmont Community College awarded about 31 education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $31,111 in their early career. South Piedmont Community College graduates carry a median of $8,200 in student loans.
More information about a degree in education from South Piedmont Community College
Wingate University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Wingate. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. About 60 education degrees were awarded at Wingate University in the most recent year. Students who receive their education degree from Wingate University earn around $46,804 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,532 to complete this degree.
Get the full education details for Wingate University
North Carolina Central University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. North Carolina Central University graduates 42% of students within six years. About 141 education degrees were awarded at North Carolina Central University in the most recent year. Graduates of the education program make about $52,641 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $31,880 to complete this degree.
See the full education program report for North Carolina Central University
Rest of the Top 50 Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong education education:
View All Education Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 78 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.
