2027 Best Value Social Studies Education Schools in North Carolina
[Social Studies Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/social-studies-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for social studies education students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Social Studies Education Schools in North Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the social studies education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Social Studies Education Schools
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earned the #1 spot for value among social studies education schools in North Carolina. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,661, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the social studies education program here. Early-career social studies education graduates make about $43,033. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earned it the #2 place for social studies education. Set in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,648, with out-of-state students paying around $7,648. Social Studies Education graduates carry a median of $26,660 in student loans. Early-career social studies education graduates make about $40,578. That is a strong return on a $26,660 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
A rank of #3 makes Western Carolina University one of the best values for social studies education. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,630, compared with $8,630 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the social studies education program here. Early-career social studies education graduates make about $41,444. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
East Carolina University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in social studies education, landing the #4 spot this year. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. Students from in state pay about $7,361 in tuition and fees, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Social Studies Education graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, social studies education degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $48,318. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Students looking for strong value in social studies education will find it at Mount Olive College, which ranked #5. Mount Olive College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Mount Olive. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,366. Social Studies Education graduates carry a median of $26,889 in student loans. Soon after graduation, social studies education degree recipients from Mount Olive College generally make around $45,316. Set against $26,889 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
