SmartAsset recently released its eighth annual Best Value Colleges study. Their new analysis compared institutions across five metrics, including scholarships, starting salary, tuition, living costs, and retention rate to determine the ‘Best Value Colleges’ in North Carolina.
Duke University ranked number 1 among all North Carolina colleges and universities. This marks the 7th consecutive year Duke has led the statewide rankings. Locally, UNC Charlotte ranks number 7 in the state. 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]