by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in North Carolina, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **17** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual analyzed 17 graduate schools on more than 20 objective measures 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.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Duke University earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in North Carolina. Located in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $68,758 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $83,388 early in their careers. The median student debt is $13,296.
The strong outcomes at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned it the #2 place in North Carolina. Set in Chapel Hill, NC, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public institution. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill posts a six-year graduation rate of 91%. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates report median early-career earnings of $61,361. The median student debt is $15,117.
A rank of #3 makes North Carolina State University At Raleigh one of the top graduate schools in North Carolina. This public school is set in Raleigh, NC. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $59,622. The median student debt is $22,113.
A rank of #4 makes Wake Forest University one of the top graduate schools in North Carolina. Based in Winston-Salem, NC, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $67,642 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $67,369. Wake Forest University students take on a median of $21,577 in debt.
A rank of #5 makes High Point University one of the top graduate schools in North Carolina. High Point University is a private not-for-profit school based in High Point, NC. High Point University posts a six-year graduation rate of 72%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,312. Early-career graduates earn a median of $113,352. Students borrow a median of $23,785 to complete a degree here.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public school based in Charlotte, NC. About 69% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $7,239, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. Median early-career earnings reach $51,799. Students borrow a median of $24,673 to complete a degree here.
East Carolina University placed #7 among the best graduate schools in North Carolina. East Carolina University is a public school based in Greenville, NC. About 63% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,361, with out-of-state students paying around $23,638. East Carolina University graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,931. East Carolina University students take on a median of $24,747 in debt.
Appalachian State University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Boone, NC, Appalachian State University is a public institution. Appalachian State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 74%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,579, while out-of-state students pay about $25,212. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,340. Students borrow a median of $21,992 to complete a degree here.
Wingate University placed #9 among the best graduate schools in North Carolina. Wingate University is a private not-for-profit school based in Wingate, NC. Wingate University posts a six-year graduation rate of 46%. Students from in state pay about $42,576 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,836 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $25,556 in student loans.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Located in Wilmington, NC, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a public institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,277, compared with $24,152 for out-of-state students. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,164. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington students take on a median of $23,013 in debt.
Campbell University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Buies Creek, NC, Campbell University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. In-state tuition and fees average $41,600. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,629. Students borrow a median of $23,641 to complete a degree here.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro placed #12 among the best graduate schools in North Carolina. Based in Greensboro, NC, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a public institution. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro posts a six-year graduation rate of 56%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,661, compared with $24,012 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,595 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,977 to complete a degree here.
Western Carolina University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Set in Cullowhee, NC, Western Carolina University is a public institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,630, compared with $8,630 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $44,926. Typical student debt is $24,174.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Set in Wake Forest, NC, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 17% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,318. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,863.
Gardner Webb University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Boiling Springs, NC. Gardner Webb University graduates 54% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,750. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $63,220. Graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans.
North Carolina A And T State University landed the #16 spot in North Carolina this year. Based in Greensboro, NC, North Carolina A And T State University is a public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,813, while out-of-state students pay about $20,673. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,715. North Carolina A And T State University students take on a median of $29,078 in debt.
Lenoir Rhyne University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Set in Hickory, NC, Lenoir Rhyne University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,900. Median early-career earnings reach $49,985. The median student debt is $26,900.
Fayetteville State University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Set in Fayetteville, NC, Fayetteville State University is a public institution. Roughly 38% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,353, compared with $8,353 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,449. The median student debt is $27,869.
Piedmont International University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Set in Winston-Salem, NC, Piedmont International University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 21%. Students from in state pay about $17,575 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $61,421. Piedmont International University students take on a median of $28,154 in debt.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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.