2026 Best Value Value Schools in North Carolina
[Value](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/cyber-computer-forensics-and-counterterrorism/) 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 6 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
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
South Piedmont Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value value schools in North Carolina. South Piedmont Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Polkton. Students from in state pay about $2,022 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,630. Students borrow a median of $10,098 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of South Piedmont Community College earn a median of $39,321 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,098 median debt.
Guilford Technical Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Jamestown, Guilford Technical Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,320, while out-of-state students pay about $7,696. Students borrow a median of $20,501 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Guilford Technical Community College generally make around $36,124. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 6 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.
