by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in North Carolina, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked **49** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 49 graduate schools 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.
This is how starting salaries are distributed among the top-ranked graduate schools:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
Leading the list is Duke University, our #1 graduate school in North Carolina. Located 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 average $68,758. Graduates go on to earn a median of $83,388 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans.
Out of the 49 graduate schools in North Carolina in this year's ranking, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #2 spot. 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%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates report median early-career earnings of $61,361. Students borrow a median of $15,117 to complete a degree here.
Wake Forest University came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in North Carolina. Located in Winston-Salem, NC, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $67,642. Wake Forest University graduates report median early-career earnings of $67,369. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #4 this year. Set in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $59,622. The median student debt is $22,113.
The strong outcomes at High Point University earned it the #5 place in North Carolina. High Point University is a private not-for-profit school based in High Point, NC. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. Students from in state pay about $45,312 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $113,352. Students borrow a median of $23,785 to complete a degree here.
Elon University placed #6 among the best graduate schools in North Carolina. Elon University is a private not-for-profit school based in Elon, NC. Elon University posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,958. Median early-career earnings reach $50,463. Elon University students take on a median of $21,619 in debt.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington placed #7 among the best graduate schools in North Carolina. This public school is set in Wilmington, NC. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington graduates 71% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $7,277 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,152. 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 #8 position. Located in Charlotte, NC, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public institution. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte posts a six-year graduation rate of 69%. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,799. Students borrow a median of $24,673 to complete a degree here.
Appalachian State University landed the #9 spot in North Carolina this year. Based in Boone, NC, Appalachian State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. Students from in state pay about $7,579 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $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.
East Carolina University landed the #10 spot in North Carolina this year. Located in Greenville, NC, East Carolina University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,361, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,931. The median student debt is $24,747.
Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Concord, NC. In-state tuition and fees average $16,550. Median early-career earnings reach $60,869. Typical student debt is $24,414.
Queens University Of Charlotte came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Based in Charlotte, NC, Queens University Of Charlotte is a private not-for-profit institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,846. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,654 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $27,245 in student loans.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary did well this year, earning the #13 position. Set 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,318. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,863 early in their careers.
University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts placed #14 among the best graduate schools in North Carolina. Set in Winston Salem, NC, University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,477, with out-of-state students paying around $27,211. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $21,656. University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts students take on a median of $24,434 in debt.
Western Carolina University landed the #15 spot in North Carolina this year. Western Carolina University is a public school based in Cullowhee, NC. About 60% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $4,630, compared with $8,630 for out-of-state students. Western Carolina University graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,926. Typical student debt is $24,174.
Campbell University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Buies Creek, NC, Campbell University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $41,600 in tuition and fees. 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.
Wingate University placed #17 among the best graduate schools in North Carolina. Based in Wingate, NC, Wingate University is a private not-for-profit institution. Wingate University graduates 46% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,576. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,836. The median student debt is $25,556.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro placed #18 among the best graduate schools in North Carolina. This public school is set in Greensboro, NC. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,661, compared with $24,012 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $42,595. Graduates carry a median of $24,977 in student loans.
Meredith College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Meredith College is a private not-for-profit school based in Raleigh, NC. Meredith College graduates 70% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $45,630 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,331. The median student debt is $26,618.
Gardner Webb University did well this year, earning the #20 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Boiling Springs, NC. About 54% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,750. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,220 early in their careers. Gardner Webb University students take on a median of $25,033 in debt.
Lenoir Rhyne University landed the #21 spot in North Carolina this year. Set in Hickory, NC, Lenoir Rhyne University is a private not-for-profit institution. Lenoir Rhyne University posts a six-year graduation rate of 48%. In-state tuition and fees average $31,900. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,985. Students borrow a median of $26,900 to complete a degree here.
Greensboro College landed the #22 spot in North Carolina this year. Set in Greensboro, NC, Greensboro College is a private not-for-profit institution. Greensboro College posts a six-year graduation rate of 46%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,000. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $38,134. Graduates carry a median of $33,915 in student loans.
Lees Mcrae College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Banner Elk, NC. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,850. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,268 early in their careers. The median student debt is $19,821.
North Carolina Wesleyan College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Rocky Mount, NC. North Carolina Wesleyan College graduates 42% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $35,586. Median early-career earnings reach $40,202. Typical student debt is $26,713.
Pfeiffer University came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Based in Misenheimer, NC, Pfeiffer University is a private not-for-profit institution. Pfeiffer University posts a six-year graduation rate of 35%. In-state tuition and fees run about $35,070. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,891. Pfeiffer University students take on a median of $26,375 in debt.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs 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.