2026 Best Value Value Schools in North Carolina
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-analytics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
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2026 Best Value Value Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
East Carolina University tops our 2026 list of the best value value schools in North Carolina. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,361, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. Students borrow a median of $24,747 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $51,931. Set against $24,747 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of North Carolina At Wilmington one of the best values for value. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,277 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,152. Students borrow a median of $23,013 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $46,164. Set against $23,013 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
High Point University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Set in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,312. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,785. Value graduates of High Point University earn a median of $113,352 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 11 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.
