Where are college students in North Carolina getting the most return on their educational investment?
Personal finance website SmartAsset just released a study comparing the best colleges and universities in each state by measuring them across five metrics, including: scholarships, average starting salary for graduates, tuition, living costs and student retention rate.
Check out the top performing schools in North Carolina below:
| Rank | School | City, State | Avg. Scholarships and Grants | Avg. Starting Salary | College Tuition | Student Living Costs | Student Retention Rate | College Education Value – Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke University | Durham, NC | $48,351 | $76,800 | $55,695 | $18,644 | 97% | 69.78 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC | $15,936 | $60,400 | $8,987 | $14,824 | 95% | 66.10 |
| 3 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Raleigh, NC | $10,175 | $62,200 | $9,101 | $14,876 | 94% | 63.81 |
| 4 | North Carolina A & T State University | Greensboro, NC | $8,760 | $57,600 | $6,612 | $11,524 | 80% | 61.18 |
| 5 | Appalachian State University | Boone, NC | $8,130 | $51,300 | $7,364 | $11,830 | 86% | 52.83 |
| 6 | Wake Forest University | Winston Salem, NC | $37,880 | $65,300 | $53,322 | $18,316 | 95% | 47.21 |
| 7 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | $7,347 | $56,800 | $6,853 | $16,841 | 85% | 46.08 |
| 8 | East Carolina University | Greenville, NC | $7,722 | $52,600 | $7,188 | $14,484 | 83% | 45.77 |
| 9 | Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, NC | $5,641 | $48,700 | $3,926 | $13,779 | 81% | 42.07 |
| 10 | Winston-Salem State University | Winston Salem, NC | $8,138 | $50,500 | $5,904 | $14,230 | 77% | 42.05 |
You can find additional details on the study, including the methodology and interactive map here: [LINK]