2026 Best Value Health Professions Schools in North Carolina
[Health Professions](/majors/health-care-professions/) 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 121 schools to find the best return on investment for health professions students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Health Professions Schools in North Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the health professions degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Health Professions Schools
Our analysis ranked Central Piedmont Community College the best value for a degree in health professions in North Carolina. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Health Professions graduates carry a median of $16,484 in student loans. Early-career health professions graduates make about $57,291. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Durham Technical Community College one of the best values for health professions. Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. In-state tuition and fees average $2,240, with out-of-state students paying around $7,531. Health Professions graduates carry a median of $25,820 in student loans. Early-career health professions graduates make about $60,187. That is a strong return on a $25,820 median debt.
Stanly Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in health professions, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Albemarle, Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,672 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,816. Early-career health professions graduates make about $55,922.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wilkes Community College earned it the #4 place for health professions. Set in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,572, with out-of-state students paying around $8,716. Typical student debt for health professions graduates is $9,125. Soon after graduation, health professions degree recipients from Wilkes Community College generally make around $62,962. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Johnston Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in health professions, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,756, while out-of-state students pay about $8,900. Health Professions graduates carry a median of $13,167 in student loans. Early-career health professions graduates make about $49,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Carolina Community College earned the #6 position for value in health professions this year. Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Sanford. In-state tuition and fees average $2,711, with out-of-state students paying around $8,855. Typical student debt for health professions graduates is $13,500. Early-career health professions graduates make about $48,046. That is a strong return on a $13,500 median debt.
Fayetteville Technical Community College landed the #7 spot for health professions value this year. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,628 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,772 for out-of-state students. Health Professions graduates carry a median of $16,665 in student loans. Health Professions graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $39,648 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sampson Community College earned the #8 position for value in health professions this year. Located in the town of Clinton, Sampson Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,877, with out-of-state students paying around $9,789. Students borrow a median of $12,596 to complete the health professions program here. Early-career health professions graduates make about $68,870. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cleveland Community College placed #9 among the best values for health professions. Set in the town of Shelby, Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,602, with out-of-state students paying around $8,746. Health Professions graduates carry a median of $7,131 in student loans. Health Professions graduates of Cleveland Community College earn a median of $64,249 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,131 median debt.
South Piedmont Community College placed #10 among the best values for health professions. Located in the rural area of Polkton, South Piedmont Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,022 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,630. Health Professions graduates carry a median of $10,098 in student loans. Early-career health professions graduates make about $67,158. Set against $10,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Martin Community College placed #11 among the best values for health professions. Martin Community College is a small public school located in the town of Williamston. In-state tuition and fees average $2,523, with out-of-state students paying around $8,667. Early-career health professions graduates make about $42,820.
Rockingham Community College came in at #12 for value in health professions this year. Rockingham Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Wentworth. Students from in state pay about $1,966 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,574 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for health professions graduates is $5,500. Health Professions graduates of Rockingham Community College earn a median of $60,393 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Nash Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value health professions schools. Located in the rural area of Rocky Mount, Nash Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,866 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,866. Typical student debt for health professions graduates is $20,836. Early-career health professions graduates make about $58,282. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wayne Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value health professions schools. Located in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,566 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,710. Typical student debt for health professions graduates is $5,500. Health Professions graduates of Wayne Community College earn a median of $61,097 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rowan Cabarrus Community College landed the #15 spot for health professions value this year. Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salisbury. Students from in state pay about $2,064 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,672. Typical student debt for health professions graduates is $12,063. Early-career health professions graduates make about $53,032. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Halifax Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value health professions schools. Set in the rural area of Weldon, Halifax Community College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,608 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,752. Soon after graduation, health professions degree recipients from Halifax Community College generally make around $70,982.
Haywood Community College came in at #17 for value in health professions this year. Haywood Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Clyde. Students from in state pay about $2,580 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,724 for out-of-state students. Health Professions graduates of Haywood Community College earn a median of $58,923 early in their careers.
James Sprunt Community College placed #18 among the best values for health professions. James Sprunt Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Kenansville. In-state tuition and fees average $2,592, with out-of-state students paying around $8,736. Typical student debt for health professions graduates is $11,278. Health Professions graduates of James Sprunt Community College earn a median of $65,112 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Vance Granville Community College landed the #19 spot for health professions value this year. Located in the town of Henderson, Vance Granville Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,944, with out-of-state students paying around $6,552. Typical student debt for health professions graduates is $14,833. Soon after graduation, health professions degree recipients from Vance Granville Community College generally make around $44,430. That is a strong return on a $14,833 median debt.
Southwestern Community College Sylva placed #20 among the best values for health professions. Set in the town of Sylva, Southwestern Community College Sylva is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,112, while out-of-state students pay about $13,184. Students borrow a median of $13,565 to complete the health professions program here. Soon after graduation, health professions degree recipients from Southwestern Community College Sylva generally make around $54,132. Set against $13,565 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Craven Community College landed the #21 spot for health professions value this year. Located in the town of New Bern, Craven Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,022 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,630. Health Professions graduates carry a median of $10,349 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health professions degree recipients from Craven Community College generally make around $39,021. That is a strong return on a $10,349 median debt.
Surry Community College came in at #22 for value in health professions this year. Set in the rural area of Dobson, Surry Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,668, while out-of-state students pay about $8,812. Students borrow a median of $13,574 to complete the health professions program here. Early-career health professions graduates make about $69,740. That is a strong return on a $13,574 median debt.
Southeastern Community College Whiteville came in at #23 for value in health professions this year. Set in the rural area of Whiteville, Southeastern Community College Whiteville is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,600 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,744. Students borrow a median of $10,188 to complete the health professions program here. Health Professions graduates of Southeastern Community College Whiteville earn a median of $65,328 early in their careers. Set against $10,188 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lenoir Community College earned the #24 position for value in health professions this year. Set in the town of Kinston, Lenoir Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,578, while out-of-state students pay about $8,822. Students borrow a median of $10,417 to complete the health professions program here. Health Professions graduates of Lenoir Community College earn a median of $55,545 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,417 median debt.
Gaston College came in at #25 for value in health professions this year. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Gaston College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,186 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,330 for out-of-state students. Health Professions graduates carry a median of $12,762 in student loans. Early-career health professions graduates make about $63,519. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Health Professions Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for health professions this year:
More Health Professions Rankings
View All Health Professions Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 121 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 76 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.
