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NC · BACHELOR’S-REPORTING COLLEGES

Best ROI colleges in North Carolina

Ten years of reported earnings premium, measured against four years of net price plus earnings forgone while studying.

47eligible colleges$45kcomparison earnings
LOWER10-YEAR ROIHIGHER
1
Duke UniversityDurham, NC · Private nonprofit
+99%+$294,262
2
Wake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofit
+40%+$116,694
3
University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC · Public
+20%+$44,990
4
North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh, NC · Public
+6%+$15,818
5
Elon UniversityElon, NC · Private nonprofit
−27%−$92,150
6
University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte, NC · Public
−37%−$89,120
7
Cabarrus College of Health SciencesConcord, NC · Private nonprofit
−38%−$94,692
8
Queens University of CharlotteCharlotte, NC · Private nonprofit
−50%−$151,618
9
East Carolina UniversityGreenville, NC · Public
−52%−$125,526
10
Pfeiffer UniversityMisenheimer, NC · Private nonprofit
−52%−$133,534
11
Winston-Salem State UniversityWinston-Salem, NC · Public
−55%−$128,436
12
High Point UniversityHigh Point, NC · Private nonprofit
−58%−$194,398
13
Campbell UniversityBuies Creek, NC · Private nonprofit
−63%−$174,644
14
University of North Carolina WilmingtonWilmington, NC · Public
−65%−$168,096
15
Wingate UniversityWingate, NC · Private nonprofit
−67%−$176,612
16
Gardner-Webb UniversityBoiling Springs, NC · Private nonprofit
−70%−$174,376
17
Appalachian State UniversityBoone, NC · Public
−73%−$180,064
18
Montreat CollegeMontreat, NC · Private nonprofit
−73%−$211,094
19
Western Carolina UniversityCullowhee, NC · Public
−74%−$171,730
20
University of Mount OliveMount Olive, NC · Private nonprofit
−75%−$191,532
21
Lees-McRae CollegeBanner Elk, NC · Private nonprofit
−75%−$221,350
22
North Carolina A&T State UniversityGreensboro, NC · Public
−79%−$176,284
23
Lenoir-Rhyne UniversityHickory, NC · Private nonprofit
−80%−$209,786
24
William Peace UniversityRaleigh, NC · Private nonprofit
−83%−$222,446
25
Methodist UniversityFayetteville, NC · Private nonprofit
−84%−$233,686
26
Meredith CollegeRaleigh, NC · Private nonprofit
−84%−$226,362
27
University of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboro, NC · Public
−85%−$189,500
28
North Carolina Wesleyan UniversityRocky Mount, NC · Private nonprofit
−87%−$218,328
29
Guilford CollegeGreensboro, NC · Private nonprofit
−88%−$235,680
30
Barton CollegeWilson, NC · Private nonprofit
−90%−$246,294
31
Fayetteville State UniversityFayetteville, NC · Public
−90%−$189,948
32
University of North Carolina at PembrokePembroke, NC · Public
−92%−$203,990
33
Belmont Abbey CollegeBelmont, NC · Private nonprofit
−93%−$258,596
34
North Carolina Central UniversityDurham, NC · Public
−94%−$227,886
35
Greensboro CollegeGreensboro, NC · Private nonprofit
−95%−$239,638
36
Catawba CollegeSalisbury, NC · Private nonprofit
−96%−$240,716
37
Johnson & Wales University-CharlotteCharlotte, NC · Private nonprofit
−102%−$296,744
38
Mars Hill UniversityMars Hill, NC · Private nonprofit
−103%−$266,880
39
Chowan UniversityMurfreesboro, NC · Private nonprofit
−105%−$248,024
40
Johnson C Smith UniversityCharlotte, NC · Private nonprofit
−105%−$277,046
41
University of North Carolina AshevilleAsheville, NC · Public
−109%−$249,690
42
Shaw UniversityRaleigh, NC · Private nonprofit
−111%−$273,578
43
Elizabeth City State UniversityElizabeth City, NC · Public
−112%−$229,866
44
Brevard CollegeBrevard, NC · Private nonprofit
−116%−$317,206
45
Warren Wilson CollegeSwannanoa, NC · Private nonprofit
−124%−$327,406
46
Livingstone CollegeSalisbury, NC · Private nonprofit
−138%−$321,756
47
University of North Carolina School of the ArtsWinston Salem, NC · Public
−141%−$337,494

Eligibility requires a currently operating college, a reported bachelor’s-level program, at least 500 students, observed earnings and annual average net price of at least $1,000. State rank is relative only to eligible institutions in North Carolina.

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