2027 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in North Carolina

[Secondary Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/secondary-education/) 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 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for secondary education students.
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2027 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in North Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the secondary education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Secondary Education Schools
North Carolina A And T State University earned the #1 spot for value among secondary education schools in North Carolina. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,813, with out-of-state students paying around $20,673. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $29,078. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $48,447. Set against $29,078 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Chowan University earned it the #2 place for secondary education. Set in the rural area of Murfreesboro, Chowan University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,910. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $32,131. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Chowan University generally make around $30,165. That is a strong return on a $32,131 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Students looking for strong value in secondary education will find it at Mount Olive College, which ranked #3. Set in the rural area of Mount Olive, Mount Olive College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,366. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $35,963 in student loans. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $45,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mount Olive College admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,277, while out-of-state students pay about $24,152. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $20,130 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $46,164. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lenoir Rhyne University earned it the #5 place for secondary education. Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Hickory. In-state tuition and fees average $31,900. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the secondary education program here. Secondary Education graduates of Lenoir Rhyne University earn a median of $42,723 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lenoir Rhyne University admits about 85% of applicants.
Wake Forest University came in at #6 for value in secondary education this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,642 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $21,577. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $67,369. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
More Secondary Education Rankings
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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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.