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2024 Best Schools for the Money (No Aid) in North Carolina for Master's Degrees

34 Colleges
$10,177 Avg Graduate Tuition & Fees*
$10,989 Avg Room & Board*

With all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a degree. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Best Value North Carolina Schools for a Master's ranking - to help you make that decision.

In This Year's Value Report:

Finding Your Best College Match

After analyzing 34 schools in North Carolina, we came up with our list of those that offered the best value Master's Degree programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best value schools. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.

Our Methodology

Our Best Master's Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina ranking is determined by first looking at the combined costs of average tuition, fees, and room and board before any aid is applied. In addition, the overall quality of a school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how much it costs.

To make it into this list a school must offer a quality education like the schools in our Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considers factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.

We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.

More Rankings to View

You can scroll down to see the top schools for this ranking, but you may also want to view some of the other ranking methods listed below.

With Aid (All Income Levels) Best Value Master's Degrees
With Aid (Income $0-$30k) Best Value Master's Degrees
With Aid (Income $30-$48k) Best Value Master's Degrees
With Aid (Income $48-$75k) Best Value Master's Degrees
With Aid (Income $75-$110k) Best Value Master's Degrees
With Aid (Income Over $110k) Best Value Master's Degrees
To get a better picture of the best value schools for your income range or for whether or not you'll receive aid, click on one of the tiles above. You may also want to narrow this list by location to find the best value schools nearest you. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.

Know what field you want to major in? Make sure you check out our best value schools by major. In addition, you can select one of the links below to see the best value colleges for other degree levels.

Best Value Master's Degree Schools (No Aid) in North Carolina

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

1

Our 2024 rankings named University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill the best value (no aid) school in North Carolina for students working on their master’s degree. UNC Chapel Hill is a large public school situated in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has the honor of being ranked #2 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $24,448 per year for graduate students.

Full University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Value Report

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

Out of the 34 master’s degree schools in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, North Carolina State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, the school is a large public institution.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, North Carolina State University is ranked #3 for quality in the state of North Carolina. The average cost without aid for the school is $23,660 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on North Carolina State University

3
ECU crest
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina

The quality degree programs at East Carolina University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina. East Carolina University is a large public school located in Greenville, North Carolina.

Not only is East Carolina University a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in North Carolina for overall quality. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $18,044 a year.

Read full value report on East Carolina University

4
Appalachian State crest
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Appalachian State University. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina list. Boone, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.

Appalachian State University has the honor of being ranked #8 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $17,688 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Appalachian State University

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Charlotte. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina list. UNC Charlotte is located in Charlotte, North Carolina and has a large student population. It is a public school.

Not only is University of North Carolina at Charlotte a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in North Carolina for overall quality. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $20,608 a year.

Full University of North Carolina at Charlotte Value Report

6

University of North Carolina at Wilmington did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #6. Wilmington, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.

University of North Carolina at Wilmington has the honor of being ranked #9 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $18,860 per year for graduate students.

Full University of North Carolina at Wilmington Value Report

7

University of North Carolina at Greensboro did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #7. Greensboro, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.

Not only is University of North Carolina at Greensboro a great value, but it is also ranked #16 in North Carolina for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $17,951 per year for graduate students.

Learn More About Value at University of North Carolina at Greensboro

8
WCU crest
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, North Carolina

Western Carolina University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina list. WCU is located in Cullowhee, North Carolina and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Western Carolina University is ranked #13 for quality in the state of North Carolina. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $18,577 a year.

Full Western Carolina University Value Report

9
Gardner - Webb crest
Gardner - Webb University
Boiling Springs, North Carolina

With a ranking of #9, Gardner - Webb University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina list. Gardner - Webb is located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Gardner - Webb University is ranked #12 for quality in the state of North Carolina. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $20,670 a year.

Learn More About Value at Gardner - Webb University

10
NC A&T crest
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, North Carolina

North Carolina A & T State University landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina ranking. NC A&T is a public institution located in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Not only is North Carolina A & T State University a great value, but it is also ranked #21 in North Carolina for overall quality. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $16,357 a year.

Learn More About Value at North Carolina A & T State University

11
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Winston - Salem State University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Winston - Salem State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #11. WSSU is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.

Not only is Winston - Salem State University a great value, but it is also ranked #19 in North Carolina for overall quality. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $18,158 a year.

Read full value report on Winston - Salem State University

12
Wingate crest
Wingate University
Wingate, North Carolina

Wingate University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Wingate, North Carolina.

Wingate University has the honor of being ranked #17 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $21,970 a year.

Read full value report on Wingate University

13
Fayetteville State University crest
Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Fayetteville State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina list. This medium-sized public school is located in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Not only is Fayetteville State University a great value, but it is also ranked #24 in North Carolina for overall quality. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $15,275 a year.

Full Fayetteville State University Value Report

14
Elon crest
Elon University
Elon, North Carolina

Elon University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #14. Elon University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Elon, North Carolina.

Elon University has the honor of being ranked #5 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $32,250 per year for graduate students.

Learn More About Value at Elon University

15
Lenoir - Rhyne University crest
Lenoir - Rhyne University
Hickory, North Carolina

With a ranking of #15, Lenoir - Rhyne University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina list. Lenoir - Rhyne University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Hickory, North Carolina.

Lenoir - Rhyne University has the honor of being ranked #14 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $24,860 per year for graduate students.

Full Lenoir - Rhyne University Value Report

16
Salem crest
Salem College
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Salem College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina list. Salem College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Salem College has the honor of being ranked #22 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $20,700 per year for graduate students.

Learn More About Value at Salem College

17

University of North Carolina at Pembroke landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Pembroke, North Carolina.

University of North Carolina at Pembroke has the honor of being ranked #25 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $17,459 a year.

Full University of North Carolina at Pembroke Value Report

18
Queens crest
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina

Queens University of Charlotte came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Queens University of Charlotte has the honor of being ranked #11 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $27,428 a year.

Learn More About Value at Queens University of Charlotte

19
Pfeiffer University crest
Pfeiffer University
Misenheimer, North Carolina

Pfeiffer University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #19. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Misenheimer, North Carolina.

Pfeiffer University has the honor of being ranked #18 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $24,514 a year.

Learn More About Value at Pfeiffer University

20
North Carolina Central University crest
North Carolina Central University
Durham, North Carolina

North Carolina Central University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina list. North Carolina Central University is located in Durham, North Carolina and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.

Not only is North Carolina Central University a great value, but it is also ranked #26 in North Carolina for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $18,385 per year for graduate students.

Learn More About Value at North Carolina Central University

21
Campbell crest
Campbell University
Buies Creek, North Carolina

With a ranking of #21, Campbell University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina list. Buies Creek, North Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.

Campbell University has the honor of being ranked #15 in North Carolina for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $28,777 per year for graduate students.

Full Campbell University Value Report

22
Barton College crest
Barton College
Wilson, North Carolina

Barton College landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina ranking. Barton College is located in Wilson, North Carolina and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Barton College is ranked #28 for quality in the state of North Carolina. The average cost without aid for the school is $21,266 per year for graduate students.

Full Barton College Value Report

23
Mars Hill crest
Mars Hill University
Mars Hill, North Carolina

With a ranking of #23, Mars Hill University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina list. Mars Hill, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.

Not only is Mars Hill University a great value, but it is also ranked #29 in North Carolina for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $22,145 per year for graduate students.

Full Mars Hill University Value Report

24
ECSU crest
Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Elizabeth City State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #24. Elizabeth City State University is a small public school located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Elizabeth City State University is ranked #33 for quality in the state of North Carolina. The average cost without aid for the school is $14,210 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Elizabeth City State University

25
JCSU crest
Johnson C Smith University
Charlotte, North Carolina

Johnson C Smith University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in North Carolina ranking. JCSU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Not only is Johnson C Smith University a great value, but it is also ranked #27 in North Carolina for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $24,898 per year for graduate students.

Full Johnson C Smith University Value Report

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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