by our College Data Analytics TeamNorth Carolina State University At Raleigh ranks #1 of 75 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Associate’s Degree Colleges in North Carolina ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 56% six-year graduation rate and $52,137 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in North Carolina, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks **75** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 75 colleges using more than 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh leads the 75 ranked colleges in North Carolina, followed by Carolinas College Of Health Sciences (#2) and Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences (#3). Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Leading the list is North Carolina State University At Raleigh, our #1 college in North Carolina. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public school based in Raleigh, NC. North Carolina State University At Raleigh posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $59,622. Typical student debt is $22,113.
You'll be in good company at Carolinas College Of Health Sciences, which ranked #2 this year. This public school is set in Charlotte, NC. In-state tuition and fees average $18,882. Median early-career earnings reach $63,608. Typical student debt is $24,874.
Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in North Carolina. Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit school based in Concord, NC. Students from in state pay about $16,550 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,869 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,414 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #4 makes Campbell University one of the top colleges in North Carolina. Set in Buies Creek, NC, Campbell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $41,600 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,629. Campbell University students take on a median of $23,641 in debt.
Out of the 75 colleges in North Carolina in this year's ranking, Johnson And Wales University Charlotte landed the #5 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Charlotte, NC. The six-year graduation rate is 34%. In-state tuition and fees average $41,982. Johnson And Wales University Charlotte graduates report median early-career earnings of $36,024. The median student debt is $25,793.
Central Piedmont Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Charlotte, NC, Central Piedmont Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,629. The median student debt is $11,861.
Wake Technical Community College came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Set in Raleigh, NC, Wake Technical Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,254, compared with $6,862 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $38,673. The median student debt is $17,900.
Gaston College did well this year, earning the #8 position. This public school is set in Dallas, NC. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,186, compared with $9,330 for out-of-state students. Gaston College graduates report median early-career earnings of $39,937. The median student debt is $10,915.
Catawba Valley Community College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Located in Hickory, NC, Catawba Valley Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,427, compared with $7,803 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $38,219. Students borrow a median of $9,842 to complete a degree here.
Cape Fear Community College landed the #10 spot in North Carolina this year. This public school is set in Wilmington, NC. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,748, compared with $8,892 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,889. Students borrow a median of $12,388 to complete a degree here.
Stanly Community College landed the #11 spot in North Carolina this year. Located in Albemarle, NC, Stanly Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,672, with out-of-state students paying around $8,816. Stanly Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,920.
Gardner Webb University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Boiling Springs, NC. Gardner Webb University graduates 54% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $34,750. Gardner Webb University graduates report median early-career earnings of $63,220. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete a degree here.
Mount Olive College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Mount Olive College is a private not-for-profit school based in Mount Olive, NC. About 48% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,366. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,131 early in their careers. The median student debt is $30,798.
Durham Technical Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Durham, NC, Durham Technical Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,240 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,531. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,293 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $20,408 in student loans.
Forsyth Technical Community College placed #15 among the best colleges in North Carolina. This public school is set in Winston-Salem, NC. In-state tuition and fees average $2,276, with out-of-state students paying around $6,884. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $38,094. Students borrow a median of $16,374 to complete a degree here.
Montgomery Community College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Troy, NC, Montgomery Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,538, compared with $8,682 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,983 early in their careers.
Galen Health Institutes Asheville ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Asheville, NC, Galen Health Institutes Asheville is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,048. Graduates go on to earn a median of $72,174 early in their careers. The median student debt is $40,317.
Johnston Community College landed the #18 spot in North Carolina this year. Based in Smithfield, NC, Johnston Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,756 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,900 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $37,472. Typical student debt is $9,490.
Rowan Cabarrus Community College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a public school based in Salisbury, NC. Students from in state pay about $2,064 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,672. Rowan Cabarrus Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $34,351. The median student debt is $10,867.
Randolph Community College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Asheboro, NC, Randolph Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,416, compared with $8,176 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $32,198.
Alamance Community College placed #21 among the best colleges in North Carolina. Based in Graham, NC, Alamance Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,592, while out-of-state students pay about $8,736. Alamance Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $37,585. Graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans.
Wayne Community College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Based in Goldsboro, NC, Wayne Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,566, while out-of-state students pay about $8,710. Wayne Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $33,116. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete a degree here.
Pitt Community College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Based in Winterville, NC, Pitt Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,871 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,087. Pitt Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,022. Pitt Community College students take on a median of $19,741 in debt.
Lenoir Community College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Kinston, NC, Lenoir Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,578, with out-of-state students paying around $8,822. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $38,736. Students borrow a median of $9,984 to complete a degree here.
Coastal Carolina Community College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Jacksonville, NC, Coastal Carolina Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,512, while out-of-state students pay about $8,656. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,831 early in their careers. The median student debt is $7,125.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 75 in North Carolina. These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Colleges are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.