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. This list ranks **29** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 29 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.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Leading the list is Duke University, our #1 graduate school in North Carolina. Set in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Duke University posts a six-year graduation rate of 97%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,758. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $83,388. Duke University students take on a median of $13,296 in debt.
You'll be in good company at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, which ranked #2 this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public school based in Chapel Hill, NC. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill posts a six-year graduation rate of 91%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $61,361. Graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans.
A rank of #3 makes Wake Forest University one of the top graduate schools in North Carolina. Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit school based in Winston-Salem, NC. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. 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. Graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #4 this year. Located in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Early-career graduates earn a median of $59,622. Typical student debt is $22,113.
You'll be in good company at Elon University, which ranked #5 this year. Based in Elon, NC, Elon University is a private not-for-profit institution. Elon University posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. In-state tuition and fees average $46,958. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,463. The median student debt is $21,619.
High Point University placed #6 among the best graduate schools in North Carolina. This private not-for-profit school is set in High Point, NC. High Point University posts a six-year graduation rate of 72%. In-state tuition and fees run about $45,312. Graduates go on to earn a median of $113,352 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,785 to complete a degree here.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte placed #7 among the best graduate schools in North Carolina. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public school based in Charlotte, NC. About 69% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,799. Graduates carry a median of $24,673 in student loans.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington did well this year, earning the #8 position. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a public school based in Wilmington, NC. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington graduates 71% of students within six years. 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. Typical student debt is $23,013.
Appalachian State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Boone, NC, Appalachian State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,579, with out-of-state students paying around $25,212. Median early-career earnings reach $42,340. Graduates carry a median of $21,992 in student loans.
East Carolina University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Based in Greenville, NC, East Carolina University is a public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,361, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. Median early-career earnings reach $51,931. Graduates carry a median of $24,747 in student loans.
Queens University Of Charlotte did well this year, earning the #11 position. Set in Charlotte, NC, Queens University Of Charlotte is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,846. Median early-career earnings reach $59,654. Queens University Of Charlotte students take on a median of $27,245 in debt.
Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences came in at #12 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Concord, NC. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,550. Early-career graduates earn a median of $60,869. The median student debt is $24,414.
Campbell University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Campbell University is a private not-for-profit school based in Buies Creek, NC. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,600. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,629. Students borrow a median of $23,641 to complete a degree here.
University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts came in at #14 in this year's ranking. University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts is a public school based in Winston Salem, NC. University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts graduates 78% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,477, while out-of-state students pay about $27,211. Median early-career earnings reach $21,656. Graduates carry a median of $24,434 in student loans.
Western Carolina University placed #15 among the best graduate schools in North Carolina. Located in Cullowhee, NC, Western Carolina University is a public institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,630, while out-of-state students pay about $8,630. Western Carolina University graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,926. Graduates carry a median of $24,174 in student loans.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Wake Forest, NC, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary graduates 17% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,318. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,863.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro did well this year, earning the #17 position. This public school is set in Greensboro, NC. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro graduates 56% of students within six years. 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. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro students take on a median of $24,977 in debt.
Wingate University placed #18 among the best graduate schools in North Carolina. Located in Wingate, NC, Wingate University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,576. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,836. The median student debt is $25,556.
Meredith College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Located in Raleigh, NC, Meredith College is a private not-for-profit institution. Meredith College graduates 70% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $45,630 in tuition and fees. Meredith College graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,537. The median student debt is $26,618.
Gardner Webb University placed #20 among the best graduate schools in North Carolina. Based in Boiling Springs, NC, Gardner Webb University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. In-state tuition and fees run about $34,750. Early-career graduates earn a median of $63,220. The median student debt is $25,033.
Lenoir Rhyne University came in at #21 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. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,985. Lenoir Rhyne University students take on a median of $26,900 in debt.
Pfeiffer University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Pfeiffer University is a private not-for-profit school based in Misenheimer, NC. About 35% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $35,070 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $54,891. Typical student debt is $26,375.
Greensboro College landed the #23 spot in North Carolina this year. Greensboro College is a private not-for-profit school based in Greensboro, NC. Greensboro College posts a six-year graduation rate of 46%. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,000. Greensboro College graduates report median early-career earnings of $38,134. Greensboro College students take on a median of $33,915 in debt.
Catawba College landed the #24 spot in North Carolina this year. Based in Salisbury, NC, Catawba College is a private not-for-profit institution. Catawba College posts a six-year graduation rate of 47%. In-state tuition and fees run about $34,300. Early-career graduates earn a median of $37,894. The median student debt is $25,667.
North Carolina Wesleyan College did well this year, earning the #25 position. Set in Rocky Mount, NC, North Carolina Wesleyan College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 42% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $35,586. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,202 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,713.
Not far behind, these graduate schools also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*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.