SmartAsset released a study on the colleges and universities that give students the best return on their investment. The study weighed five metrics: scholarships, starting salary, tuition, living expenses and retention rate.
According to the study, these North Carolina schools ranked the highest overall:
| Rank | School | City | Avg. Scholarships and Grants | Avg. Starting Salary | College Tuition* | Student Living Costs | Student Retention Rate | College Education Value Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke University | Durham, NC | $49,026 | $72,300 | $55,695 | $18,644 | 98% | 72.95 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC | $16,164 | $56,600 | $8,987 | $14,824 | 96% | 66.41 |
| 3 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Raleigh, NC | $10,061 | $58,600 | $9,101 | $14,876 | 94% | 63.60 |
| 4 | North Carolina A & T State University | Greensboro, NC | $8,607 | $54,000 | $6,612 | $11,524 | 79% | 59.79 |
| 5 | Appalachian State University | Boone, NC | $8,114 | $48,100 | $7,364 | $11,830 | 88% | 52.88 |
| 6 | Wake Forest University | Winston Salem, NC | $37,534 | $61,500 | $53,322 | $18,316 | 94% | 48.06 |
| 7 | East Carolina University | Greenville, NC | $8,192 | $49,400 | $7,188 | $14,484 | 82% | 45.01 |
| 8 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | $7,295 | $53,600 | $6,853 | $16,841 | 83% | 44.93 |
| 9 | Winston-Salem State University | Winston Salem, NC | $8,294 | $47,900 | $5,904 | $14,230 | 78% | 42.62 |
| 10 | Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, NC | $5,476 | $45,900 | $3,926 | $13,779 | 78% | 40.00 |
You can find additional details on the study, including the methodology, interactive map and a list of the top schools in each state here.