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2023 Best Value Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina

57 Ranked Colleges
18,469 Degrees Awarded
$4,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

With 556,813 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, liberal arts general studies is the 1st most popular major in the United States. In 2019-2020, liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $28,337 and had an average of $17,430 in loans still to pay off.

Across North Carolina, there were 18,469 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $25,649 and $14,171 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 57 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent liberal arts general studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the liberal arts general studies program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina

1
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

Out of the 57 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Duke University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Durham, North Carolina, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 21 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.

Duke also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in North Carolina” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $371 for north carolina liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Duke.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Duke University

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k list. UNC Chapel Hill is a large public school situated in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It awarded 46 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNC Chapel Hill, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $3,753 for north carolina liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at UNC Chapel Hill

3
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Carolina State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k. Raleigh, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 51 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our north carolina liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, NC State has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $7,283 for north carolina liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend North Carolina State University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at NC State

4
Forsyth Tech crest
Forsyth Technical Community College
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Forsyth Technical Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k. This medium-sized school is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and it awarded 529 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Forsyth Tech, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Forsyth Technical Community College is $4,731 for North Carolina Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Forsyth Tech

5
Cleveland Community College crest
Cleveland Community College
Shelby, North Carolina

Out of the 57 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Cleveland Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. This small school is located in Shelby, North Carolina, and it awarded 260 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Cleveland Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in North Carolina” list. It costs about $-1,032 for north carolina liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Cleveland Community College. The negative number means the student will receive more financial aid on average than it costs to attend the school.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Cleveland Community College

6
Wake Technical Community College crest
Wake Technical Community College
Raleigh, North Carolina

Wake Technical Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wake Technical Community College is a large public school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 1,679 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our north carolina liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, Wake Technical Community College has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wake Technical Community College is $3,886 for north carolina liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Wake Technical Community College

7
FTCC crest
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Fayetteville, North Carolina

With a ranking of #7, Fayetteville Technical Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k list. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a public institution located in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 844 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

FTCC also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in North Carolina” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $2,883 for North Carolina Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Fayetteville Technical Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Fayetteville Technical Community College

8
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College crest
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Salisbury, North Carolina

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is a public institution located in Salisbury, North Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 490 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in North Carolina” list. The yearly cost to attend Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is $2,068 for North Carolina Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

9

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k list. CCCTI is a small public school situated in Hudson, North Carolina. It awarded 666 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $3,705 for North Carolina Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute

10
Pitt Community College crest
Pitt Community College
Winterville, North Carolina

Pitt Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Winterville, North Carolina, this medium-sized public school handed out 507 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Pitt Community College is $3,728 for North Carolina Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Pitt Community College

11
Beaufort County Community College crest
Beaufort County Community College
Washington, North Carolina

Beaufort County Community College landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Washington, North Carolina, and it awarded 213 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our north carolina liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, Beaufort County Community College has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $4,350 for North Carolina Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Beaufort County Community College.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Beaufort County Community College

12
RCC crest
Rockingham Community College
Wentworth, North Carolina

Rockingham Community College landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. RCC is a small school located in Wentworth, North Carolina that handed out 144 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for RCC is $6,292 for north carolina liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Rockingham Community College

13
Lenoir Community College crest
Lenoir Community College
Kinston, North Carolina

With a ranking of #13, Lenoir Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lenoir Community College is located in Kinston, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 202 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lenoir Community College, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $3,795 for north carolina liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lenoir Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Lenoir Community College

14
Wayne Community College crest
Wayne Community College
Goldsboro, North Carolina

With a ranking of #14, Wayne Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Goldsboro, North Carolina, and it awarded 230 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $4,896 for North Carolina Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Wayne Community College.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Wayne Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

15
Vance-Granville Community College crest
Vance-Granville Community College
Henderson, North Carolina

Vance-Granville Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Henderson, North Carolina, this small public school handed out 229 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Vance-Granville Community College is $3,176 for north carolina liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Vance-Granville Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

16
Surry Community College crest
Surry Community College
Dobson, North Carolina

Surry Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Surry Community College is located in Dobson, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 185 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our north carolina liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, Surry Community College has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Surry Community College is $5,070 for north carolina liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Surry Community College

17
Central Piedmont Community College crest
Central Piedmont Community College
Charlotte, North Carolina

Central Piedmont Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Charlotte, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 1,486 students in 2020-2021.

Central Piedmont Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in North Carolina” list. The yearly cost to attend Central Piedmont Community College is $5,676 for north carolina liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Central Piedmont Community College

18
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College of the Albemarle
Elizabeth City, North Carolina

College of the Albemarle came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Elizabeth City, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 267 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $3,036 for north carolina liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend College of the Albemarle.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at College of the Albemarle

19
Guilford Technical Community College crest
Guilford Technical Community College
Jamestown, North Carolina

With a ranking of #19, Guilford Technical Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k list. Guilford Technical Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Jamestown, North Carolina. It awarded 706 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Guilford Technical Community College, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $10,003 for north carolina liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Guilford Technical Community College.

Full Guilford Technical Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

20

University of North Carolina at Greensboro ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k list. UNC Greensboro is a public institution located in Greensboro, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 172 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our north carolina liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNC Greensboro has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Greensboro is $7,645 for North Carolina Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at UNC Greensboro

21
Wilkes Community College crest
Wilkes Community College
Wilkesboro, North Carolina

Wilkes Community College landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Wilkesboro, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 200 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $1,348 for North Carolina Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Wilkes Community College.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Wilkes Community College

22
CVCC crest
Catawba Valley Community College
Hickory, North Carolina

Catawba Valley Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. Catawba Valley Community College is a small public school situated in Hickory, North Carolina. It awarded 443 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

CVCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in North Carolina” list. The yearly cost to attend Catawba Valley Community College is $5,131 for north carolina liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at CVCC

23
South Piedmont Community College crest
South Piedmont Community College
Polkton, North Carolina

South Piedmont Community College landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. South Piedmont Community College is a small school located in Polkton, North Carolina that handed out 159 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our north carolina liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, South Piedmont Community College has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend South Piedmont Community College is $5,286 for North Carolina Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full South Piedmont Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

24

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College is located in Asheville, North Carolina and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 335 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

A-B Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in North Carolina” list. It costs about $4,606 for North Carolina Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at A-B Tech

25
Mitchell Community College crest
Mitchell Community College
Statesville, North Carolina

With a ranking of #25, Mitchell Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mitchell Community College is a public institution located in Statesville, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 275 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Mitchell Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in North Carolina” list. It costs about $7,495 for North Carolina Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Mitchell Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Mitchell Community College

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