# Best Online Colleges in North Carolina

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-06-07 | Schools: 50 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-online-colleges-north-carolina

## Methodology

Online programs in North Carolina ranked by outcomes and value

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.

## 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 | [Wake Forest University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wake-forest-university) | Winston-Salem, NC | 90% | $78,158 | $28,719 | $21,500 | 0.28x |
| 4 | [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 |
| 5 | [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 |
| 6 | [Appalachian State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/appalachian-state-university) | Boone, NC | 74% | $51,836 | $16,836 | $20,231 | 0.39x |
| 7 | [East Carolina University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/east-carolina-university) | Greenville, NC | 62% | $55,146 | $15,739 | $22,750 | 0.41x |
| 8 | [Western Carolina University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-carolina-university) | Cullowhee, NC | 60% | $49,458 | $13,315 | $21,868 | 0.44x |
| 9 | [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 |
| 10 | [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 |
| 11 | [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 |
| 12 | [Fayetteville Technical Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/fayetteville-technical-community-college) | Fayetteville, NC | 22% | $31,861 | $3,589 | $11,500 | 0.36x |
| 13 | [Wilkes Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wilkes-community-college) | Wilkesboro, NC | 54% | $34,728 | $-264 | $7,625 | 0.22x |
| 14 | [Wayne Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wayne-community-college) | Goldsboro, NC | 53% | $34,148 | $2,245 | $6,500 | 0.19x |
| 15 | [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 |
| 16 | [Catawba College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/catawba-college) | Salisbury, NC | 50% | $48,793 | $17,879 | $25,000 | 0.51x |
| 17 | [Fayetteville State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/fayetteville-state-university) | Fayetteville, NC | 37% | $40,144 | $7,892 | $22,987 | 0.57x |
| 18 | [Wilson Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wilson-community-college) | Wilson, NC | 33% | $32,973 | $3,064 | $10,500 | 0.32x |
| 19 | [Campbell University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/campbell-university) | Buies Creek, NC | 58% | $54,886 | $24,516 | $22,500 | 0.41x |
| 20 | [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 |
| 21 | [Forsyth Technical Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/forsyth-technical-community-college) | Winston-Salem, NC | 31% | $34,139 | $7,200 | $10,000 | 0.29x |
| 22 | [Salem College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/salem-college) | Winston-Salem, NC | 57% | $44,640 | $18,277 | $26,649 | 0.6x |
| 23 | [Central Piedmont Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/central-piedmont-community-college) | Charlotte, NC | 29% | $37,865 | $3,345 | $7,925 | 0.21x |
| 24 | [Wingate University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wingate-university) | Wingate, NC | 47% | $52,649 | $20,748 | $25,000 | 0.47x |
| 25 | [Nash Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/nash-community-college) | Rocky Mount, NC | 46% | $34,912 | $3,338 | $11,500 | 0.33x |
| 26 | [Wake Technical Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wake-technical-community-college) | Raleigh, NC | 32% | $41,769 | $8,759 | $12,000 | 0.29x |
| 27 | [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 |
| 28 | [High Point University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/high-point-university) | High Point, NC | 72% | $61,389 | $38,707 | $24,575 | 0.4x |
| 29 | [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 |
| 30 | [William Peace University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/william-peace-university) | Raleigh, NC | 45% | $46,643 | $21,649 | $22,250 | 0.48x |
| 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 | [Barton College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/barton-college) | Wilson, NC | 48% | $47,913 | $23,626 | $25,877 | 0.54x |
| 33 | [Pfeiffer University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pfeiffer-university) | Misenheimer, NC | 39% | $51,562 | $19,076 | $26,163 | 0.51x |
| 34 | [Catawba Valley Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/catawba-valley-community-college) | Hickory, NC | 35% | $36,977 | $10,528 | $4,938 | 0.13x |
| 35 | [Durham Technical Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/durham-technical-community-college) | Durham, NC | 40% | $36,142 | $1,664 | $14,750 | 0.41x |
| 36 | [Lenoir-Rhyne University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lenoir-rhyne-university) | Hickory, NC | 49% | $45,543 | $20,689 | $26,000 | 0.57x |
| 37 | [Greensboro College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/greensboro-college) | Greensboro, NC | 43% | $46,566 | $17,882 | $25,607 | 0.55x |
| 38 | [Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/caldwell-community-college-and-technical-institute) | Hudson, NC | 42% | $34,515 | $10,810 | $8,750 | 0.25x |
| 39 | [Belmont Abbey College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/belmont-abbey-college) | Belmont, NC | 47% | $47,937 | $24,639 | $26,000 | 0.54x |
| 40 | [North Carolina Central University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-carolina-central-university) | Durham, NC | 44% | $42,968 | $15,359 | $28,250 | 0.66x |
| 41 | [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 |
| 42 | [Rowan-Cabarrus Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rowan-cabarrus-community-college) | Salisbury, NC | 33% | $34,936 | $7,981 | $9,458 | 0.27x |
| 43 | [Lees-McRae College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lees-mcrae-college) | Banner Elk, NC | 43% | $43,415 | $28,340 | $17,375 | 0.4x |
| 44 | [Pitt Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pitt-community-college) | Winterville, NC | 31% | $37,259 | $7,337 | $11,977 | 0.32x |
| 45 | [Cape Fear Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cape-fear-community-college) | Wilmington, NC | 34% | $38,654 | $9,610 | $9,500 | 0.25x |
| 46 | [Methodist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/methodist-university) | Fayetteville, NC | 42% | $48,050 | $24,704 | $27,000 | 0.56x |
| 47 | [Mars Hill University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mars-hill-university) | Mars Hill, NC | 43% | $44,781 | $19,910 | $26,000 | 0.58x |
| 48 | [James Sprunt Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/james-sprunt-community-college) | Kenansville, NC | 44% | $29,307 | $1,863 | N/A | N/A |
| 49 | [Johnston Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/johnston-community-college) | Smithfield, NC | 32% | $37,310 | $1,776 | N/A | N/A |
| 50 | [Sandhills Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sandhills-community-college) | Pinehurst, NC | 50% | $31,656 | $4,157 | 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 Online Colleges in North Carolina." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-06-07. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-online-colleges-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/.