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2026 Best Value Area Studies, Other Schools in North Carolina

[Area Studies, Other](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/area-studies-other/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong area studies, other education at a price that pays off.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find the best return on investment for area studies, other students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Area Studies, Other Schools in North Carolina

2026 Best Value Area Studies, Other Schools in North Carolina

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the area studies, other degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Area Studies, Other Schools

1

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC

$8,994 In-State Tuition & Fees

$13,000 Avg Student Debt

$72,200 Median Earnings (10yr)

Our analysis ranked University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill the best value for a degree in area studies, other in North Carolina. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Typical student debt for area studies, other graduates is $13,000. Early-career area studies, other graduates make about $31,955. Set against $13,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.

2

Duke University
Durham, NC

$68,758 In-State Tuition & Fees

$13,296 Avg Student Debt

$97,800 Median Earnings (10yr)

Duke University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value area studies, other schools. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,758. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete the area studies, other program here. Soon after graduation, area studies, other degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $83,388. Set against $13,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Duke University admits about 6% of applicants.

View All Area Studies, Other Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 3 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.