by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in North Carolina, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **23** programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 23 graduate schools across over 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.
This is how starting salaries are distributed among the top-ranked graduate schools:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
Duke University tops our 2027 ranking of the best graduate schools in North Carolina. Based in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Duke University posts a six-year graduation rate of 97%. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,758. Graduates go on to earn a median of $83,388 early in their careers. Duke University students take on a median of $13,296 in debt.
A rank of #2 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the top graduate schools in North Carolina. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public school based in Chapel Hill, NC. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Median early-career earnings reach $61,361. Students borrow a median of $15,117 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 23 graduate schools in North Carolina in this year's ranking, Wake Forest University landed the #3 spot. Located in Winston-Salem, NC, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $67,642 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $67,369 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete a degree here.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in North Carolina. Located in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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.
Out of the 23 graduate schools in North Carolina in this year's ranking, High Point University landed the #5 spot. High Point University is a private not-for-profit school based in High Point, NC. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,312. Early-career graduates earn a median of $113,352. The median student debt is $23,785.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a public school based in Wilmington, NC. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington posts a six-year graduation rate of 71%. Students from in state pay about $7,277 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,152 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,164. Students borrow a median of $23,013 to complete a degree here.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte did well this year, earning the #7 position. Based in Charlotte, NC, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,239, with out-of-state students paying around $22,492. Median early-career earnings reach $51,799. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte students take on a median of $24,673 in debt.
East Carolina University placed #8 among the best graduate schools in North Carolina. This public school is set in Greenville, NC. East Carolina University posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. Students from in state pay about $7,361 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $23,638. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,931 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,747 to complete a degree here.
Elon University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Elon, NC, Elon University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,958. Median early-career earnings reach $50,463. Typical student debt is $21,619.
Appalachian State University did well this year, earning the #10 position. This public school is set in Boone, NC. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,579, with out-of-state students paying around $25,212. Median early-career earnings reach $42,340. Typical student debt is $21,992.
Wingate University landed the #11 spot in North Carolina this year. Located in Wingate, NC, Wingate University is a private not-for-profit institution. Wingate University graduates 46% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $42,576. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,836. Graduates carry a median of $25,556 in student loans.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary did well this year, earning the #12 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Wake Forest, NC. About 17% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,318. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,863.
Western Carolina University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Set in Cullowhee, NC, Western Carolina University is a public institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,630, while out-of-state students pay about $8,630. Median early-career earnings reach $44,926. Graduates carry a median of $24,174 in student loans.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro placed #14 among the best graduate schools in North Carolina. This public school is set in Greensboro, NC. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro graduates 56% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,661, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Median early-career earnings reach $42,595. Students borrow a median of $24,977 to complete a degree here.
Campbell University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Located in Buies Creek, NC, Campbell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $41,600. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,629 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,641 to complete a degree here.
Gardner Webb University placed #16 among the best graduate schools in North Carolina. Located in Boiling Springs, NC, Gardner Webb University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,750. Median early-career earnings reach $63,220. Typical student debt is $25,033.
Lenoir Rhyne University did well this year, earning the #17 position. Set in Hickory, NC, Lenoir Rhyne University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,900. Lenoir Rhyne University graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,985. Graduates carry a median of $26,900 in student loans.
Methodist University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Located in Fayetteville, NC, Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Methodist University graduates 43% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $41,250 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,375. The median student debt is $27,604.
North Carolina A And T State University did well this year, earning the #19 position. This public school is set in Greensboro, NC. North Carolina A And T State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,813, with out-of-state students paying around $20,673. North Carolina A And T State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,715. The median student debt is $29,078.
Winston Salem State University landed the #20 spot in North Carolina this year. Based in Winston-Salem, NC, Winston Salem State University is a public institution. Winston Salem State University graduates 47% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,126, while out-of-state students pay about $16,782. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,969. The median student debt is $27,653.
Fayetteville State University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Set in Fayetteville, NC, Fayetteville State University is a public institution. About 38% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $4,353 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,353 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $41,449. Graduates carry a median of $27,869 in student loans.
North Carolina Central University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Durham, NC. About 42% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $6,699 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,735 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $42,873. The median student debt is $31,173.
Piedmont International University did well this year, earning the #23 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Winston-Salem, NC. About 21% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,575. Graduates go on to earn a median of $61,421 early in their careers. The median student debt is $28,154.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.