# Best Bachelor's Programs in North Carolina

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 49 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-bachelors-north-carolina

## Methodology

Bachelor's programs in North Carolina ranked by outcomes and mobility

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

Choosing the right bachelor's program is a pivotal decision for many students and families. In North Carolina, there are 49 schools offering a pathway to a degree, each with its own strengths and challenges. With average earnings of $50,354 for graduates across these programs, it's crucial to understand what factors contribute to success after graduation.

The schools on this list are distinguished by their outcomes, particularly in terms of earnings, graduation rates, student debt, and social mobility. Strong programs not only prepare students academically but also set them up for better job prospects and financial stability. As you explore the list below, consider how each school's unique metrics can inform your decision-making process.

For instance, Duke University leads the pack with impressive earnings of $97,800 and a graduation rate of 96%. In contrast, North Carolina State University offers lower earnings at $68,758 and a graduation rate of 85%. This difference might highlight the trade-offs between a high-cost investment and potential returns, prompting careful consideration as you weigh your options.

## Key Findings

- Duke University graduates earn an average of $97,800, making it the highest on this list.
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has a net price of $11,655, which is significantly lower than many others.
- Davidson College graduates face an average debt of $18,688, while Wake Forest University graduates have $21,500.
- Only 54% of students across these programs graduate, indicating that not all paths lead to completion.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Duke University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/duke-university) | Durham, NC | 96% | $97,800 | $29,612 | $13,000 | 0.13x |
| 2 | [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill) | Chapel Hill, NC | 92% | $72,200 | $11,655 | $14,000 | 0.19x |
| 3 | [Davidson College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/davidson-college) | Davidson, NC | 91% | $81,400 | $17,379 | $18,688 | 0.23x |
| 4 | [Wake Forest University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wake-forest-university) | Winston-Salem, NC | 90% | $78,158 | $28,719 | $21,500 | 0.28x |
| 5 | [University of North Carolina at Charlotte](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-charlotte) | Charlotte, NC | 68% | $57,289 | $15,435 | $21,500 | 0.38x |
| 6 | [University of North Carolina Wilmington](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-wilmington) | Wilmington, NC | 71% | $54,967 | $20,109 | $19,500 | 0.35x |
| 7 | [Appalachian State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/appalachian-state-university) | Boone, NC | 74% | $51,836 | $16,836 | $20,231 | 0.39x |
| 8 | [East Carolina University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/east-carolina-university) | Greenville, NC | 62% | $55,146 | $15,739 | $22,750 | 0.41x |
| 9 | [University of North Carolina School of the Arts](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-school-of-the-arts) | Winston Salem, NC | 78% | $38,357 | $14,906 | $23,870 | 0.62x |
| 10 | [University of North Carolina Asheville](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-asheville) | Asheville, NC | 55% | $44,030 | $12,250 | $20,500 | 0.47x |
| 11 | [Western Carolina University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-carolina-university) | Cullowhee, NC | 60% | $49,458 | $13,315 | $21,868 | 0.44x |
| 12 | [North Carolina State University at Raleigh](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh) | Raleigh, NC | 85% | $68,758 | $17,303 | $20,121 | 0.29x |
| 13 | [Elon University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/elon-university) | Elon, NC | 84% | $74,545 | $41,555 | $20,500 | 0.28x |
| 14 | [University of North Carolina at Greensboro](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-greensboro) | Greensboro, NC | 57% | $48,160 | $10,965 | $22,858 | 0.47x |
| 15 | [Elizabeth City State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/elizabeth-city-state-university) | Elizabeth City, NC | 46% | $40,026 | $6,364 | $21,463 | 0.54x |
| 16 | [Meredith College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/meredith-college) | Raleigh, NC | 68% | $51,539 | $22,488 | $25,000 | 0.49x |
| 17 | [University of North Carolina at Pembroke](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-pembroke) | Pembroke, NC | 44% | $43,407 | $10,260 | $25,000 | 0.58x |
| 18 | [Fayetteville State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/fayetteville-state-university) | Fayetteville, NC | 37% | $40,144 | $7,892 | $22,987 | 0.57x |
| 19 | [University of Mount Olive](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-mount-olive) | Mount Olive, NC | 50% | $47,139 | $18,853 | $27,209 | 0.58x |
| 20 | [Catawba College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/catawba-college) | Salisbury, NC | 50% | $48,793 | $17,879 | $25,000 | 0.51x |
| 21 | [Campbell University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/campbell-university) | Buies Creek, NC | 58% | $54,886 | $24,516 | $22,500 | 0.41x |
| 22 | [North Carolina A & T State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-carolina-a-t-state-university) | Greensboro, NC | 56% | $44,440 | $10,846 | $27,000 | 0.61x |
| 23 | [Wingate University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wingate-university) | Wingate, NC | 47% | $52,649 | $20,748 | $25,000 | 0.47x |
| 24 | [Salem College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/salem-college) | Winston-Salem, NC | 57% | $44,640 | $18,277 | $26,649 | 0.6x |
| 25 | [Winston-Salem State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/winston-salem-state-university) | Winston-Salem, NC | 48% | $45,344 | $13,479 | $25,000 | 0.55x |
| 26 | [High Point University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/high-point-university) | High Point, NC | 72% | $61,389 | $38,707 | $24,575 | 0.4x |
| 27 | [William Peace University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/william-peace-university) | Raleigh, NC | 45% | $46,643 | $21,649 | $22,250 | 0.48x |
| 28 | [Barton College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/barton-college) | Wilson, NC | 48% | $47,913 | $23,626 | $25,877 | 0.54x |
| 29 | [Greensboro College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/greensboro-college) | Greensboro, NC | 43% | $46,566 | $17,882 | $25,607 | 0.55x |
| 30 | [Lenoir-Rhyne University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lenoir-rhyne-university) | Hickory, NC | 49% | $45,543 | $20,689 | $26,000 | 0.57x |
| 31 | [Queens University of Charlotte](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/queens-university-of-charlotte) | Charlotte, NC | 64% | $57,673 | $30,857 | $25,000 | 0.43x |
| 32 | [Guilford College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/guilford-college) | Greensboro, NC | 47% | $47,590 | $22,270 | $26,000 | 0.55x |
| 33 | [Pfeiffer University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pfeiffer-university) | Misenheimer, NC | 39% | $51,562 | $19,076 | $26,163 | 0.51x |
| 34 | [Belmont Abbey College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/belmont-abbey-college) | Belmont, NC | 47% | $47,937 | $24,639 | $26,000 | 0.54x |
| 35 | [North Carolina Central University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-carolina-central-university) | Durham, NC | 44% | $42,968 | $15,359 | $28,250 | 0.66x |
| 36 | [North Carolina Wesleyan University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-carolina-wesleyan-university) | Rocky Mount, NC | 41% | $45,873 | $17,432 | $25,000 | 0.54x |
| 37 | [Warren Wilson College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/warren-wilson-college) | Swannanoa, NC | 42% | $36,260 | $21,249 | $25,000 | 0.69x |
| 38 | [Brevard College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brevard-college) | Brevard, NC | 44% | $43,545 | $23,509 | $25,000 | 0.57x |
| 39 | [Lees-McRae College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lees-mcrae-college) | Banner Elk, NC | 43% | $43,415 | $28,340 | $17,375 | 0.4x |
| 40 | [Methodist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/methodist-university) | Fayetteville, NC | 42% | $48,050 | $24,704 | $27,000 | 0.56x |
| 41 | [Gardner-Webb University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/gardner-webb-university) | Boiling Springs, NC | 59% | $48,039 | $17,674 | $24,222 | 0.5x |
| 42 | [Mars Hill University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mars-hill-university) | Mars Hill, NC | 43% | $44,781 | $19,910 | $26,000 | 0.58x |
| 43 | [Chowan University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/chowan-university) | Murfreesboro, NC | 29% | $38,412 | $14,086 | $29,491 | 0.77x |
| 44 | [Shaw University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/shaw-university) | Raleigh, NC | 21% | $34,409 | $16,512 | $32,500 | 0.94x |
| 45 | [Montreat College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/montreat-college) | Montreat, NC | 45% | $45,151 | $27,061 | $25,813 | 0.57x |
| 46 | [Livingstone College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/livingstone-college) | Salisbury, NC | 26% | $32,600 | $13,479 | $31,125 | 0.95x |
| 47 | [Johnson C Smith University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/johnson-c-smith-university) | Charlotte, NC | 34% | $42,680 | $20,894 | $30,000 | 0.7x |
| 48 | [Carolina University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/carolina-university) | Winston-Salem, NC | 24% | $32,864 | $20,828 | $20,287 | 0.62x |
| 49 | [Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southeastern-baptist-theological-seminary) | Wake Forest, NC | 54% | N/A | $13,090 | N/A | N/A |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Bachelor's Programs in North Carolina." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-bachelors-north-carolina

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.