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2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k

17 Ranked Colleges
1,757 Degrees Awarded
$11,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 58,326 people earned their degree in social work, making the major the 13th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, social work graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $37,651 and had an average of $26,679 in loans still to pay off.

Across North Carolina, there were 1,757 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,885 and $29,817 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 17 colleges that offer a degree in social work. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great social work programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the social work program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. 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 Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for north carolina social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 17 Best Value Colleges for Social Work (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 137 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UNC Chapel Hill not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Social Work Schools in North Carolina” list. The yearly cost to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $3,753 for North Carolina Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%.

Read more about Social Work at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

2
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, North Carolina State University landed the #2 spot on the list. North Carolina State University is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 168 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.

NC State also took the #3 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Carolina State University is $7,283 for north carolina social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, 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 94%.

Read more about Social Work at NC State

3
Appalachian State crest
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Appalachian State University landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Boone, North Carolina, and it awarded 152 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

Appalachian State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Social Work Schools in North Carolina” list. The yearly cost to attend Appalachian State University is $7,354 for North Carolina Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Appalachian State University Social Work Report

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, this fairly large public school handed out 111 degrees to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.

UNC Greensboro also made our “Best Social Work Schools in North Carolina” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend University of North Carolina at Greensboro is $7,645 for North Carolina Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of North Carolina at Greensboro Social Work Report

5
Fayetteville State University crest
Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Fayetteville State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k. Fayetteville State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Fayetteville, North Carolina. It awarded 95 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

Fayetteville State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Social Work Schools in North Carolina” list. The estimated yearly cost for Fayetteville State University is $5,366 for north carolina social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Fayetteville State University Social Work Report

6
ECU crest
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina

East Carolina University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. ECU is a large public school situated in Greenville, North Carolina. It awarded 118 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our north carolina social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, ECU has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $11,260 for north carolina social work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend East Carolina University.

Full ECU Social Work Report

7
NC A&T crest
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, North Carolina

North Carolina A & T State University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. North Carolina A & T State University is a fairly large public school situated in Greensboro, North Carolina. It awarded 78 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

NC A&T not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Social Work Schools in North Carolina” list. The yearly cost to attend NC A&T is $7,827 for North Carolina Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full NC A&T Social Work Report

8
WCU crest
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, North Carolina

Western Carolina University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, and it awarded 95 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

WCU also made our “Best Social Work Schools in North Carolina” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $9,305 for North Carolina Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Western Carolina University.

Read full report on Social Work at WCU

9

University of North Carolina at Pembroke did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Pembroke, North Carolina, this medium-sized public school awarded 133 diplomas to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.

UNC Pembroke also made our “Best Social Work Schools in North Carolina” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend University of North Carolina at Pembroke is $8,412 for north carolina social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of North Carolina at Pembroke Social Work Report

10

University of North Carolina at Wilmington landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of North Carolina at Wilmington is a fairly large public school situated in Wilmington, North Carolina. It awarded 156 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

UNCW did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Social Work Schools in North Carolina” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNCW is $11,710 for north carolina social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at University of North Carolina at Wilmington

11

University of North Carolina at Charlotte came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a public institution located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 154 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNC Charlotte, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNC Charlotte is $12,751 for north carolina social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at UNC Charlotte

12
North Carolina Central University crest
North Carolina Central University
Durham, North Carolina

With a ranking of #12, North Carolina Central University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k list. Durham, North Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 124 students in 2020-2021.

North Carolina Central University also made our “Best Social Work Schools in North Carolina” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $12,249 for North Carolina Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend North Carolina Central University.

Full North Carolina Central University Social Work Report

13
WSSU crest
Winston - Salem State University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Winston - Salem State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Winston - Salem State University is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WSSU, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WSSU is $10,304 for north carolina social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Social Work at Winston - Salem State University

14
JCSU crest
Johnson C Smith University
Charlotte, North Carolina

Johnson C Smith University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and it awarded 64 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our north carolina social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, JCSU has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $20,176 for North Carolina Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend JCSU.

Read more about Social Work at Johnson C Smith University

15
Mars Hill crest
Mars Hill University
Mars Hill, North Carolina

Mars Hill University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Mars Hill, North Carolina, and it awarded 22 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

Mars Hill not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Social Work Schools in North Carolina” list. The yearly cost to attend Mars Hill University is $16,601 for north carolina social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Mars Hill University Social Work Report

16
Barton College crest
Barton College
Wilson, North Carolina

With a ranking of #16, Barton College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wilson, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s social work degrees to 25 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Barton College, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Barton College is $19,508 for north carolina social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Social Work at Barton College

17
Shaw University crest
Shaw University
Raleigh, North Carolina

Shaw University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 12 diplomas to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our north carolina social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, Shaw University has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Shaw University is $22,471 for north carolina social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Social Work at Shaw University

Notes and References

References

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