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Best Value Degrees in North Carolina (2026)

Top 100 of 733 programs in North Carolina · Updated 2026

The best college programs in North Carolina, ranked by overall value. We scored 733 programs across North Carolina schools on earnings, AI resilience, job demand, and tuition ROI. The top programs average $56,810/yr in graduate earnings.

Programs in NC

733

Avg Earnings (Top 100)

$56,810/yr

Avg DW Score

83/100

#1 Program

Business Administration

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Top Programs in North Carolina

Top 100 programs by DegreeWorth Score. Click any row for full analysis.

#	Program	DW Score	Earnings	AI Risk	ROI
1	Business Administration University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC	95 89–97	$85,618/yr	High	33.9x
2	Nursing (RN/BSN) Fayetteville State University · Fayetteville, NC	89 83–90	$73,448/yr	High	54.3x
3	Nursing (RN/BSN) North Carolina Central University · Durham, NC	90 83–89	$76,142/yr	High	29.2x
4	Nursing (RN/BSN) University of North Carolina at Pembroke · Pembroke, NC	89 83–90	$73,906/yr	High	52.0x
5	Nursing (RN/BSN) Winston-Salem State University · Winston-Salem, NC	89 83–89	$72,639/yr	High	32.1x
6	Public Administration Western Carolina University · Cullowhee, NC	89 83–91	$56,445/yr	High	32.8x
7	Nursing (RN/BSN) East Carolina University · Greenville, NC	88 82–88	$72,051/yr	High	25.0x
8	Nursing (RN/BSN) North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC	89 83–89	$73,368/yr	High	23.4x
9	Nursing (RN/BSN) University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	89 83–88	$73,445/yr	High	25.9x
10	Business Administration North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC	89 82–91	$56,877/yr	High	21.8x
11	Nursing (RN/BSN) University of North Carolina Wilmington · Wilmington, NC	89 83–89	$74,463/yr	High	26.3x
12	Nursing (RN/BSN) Western Carolina University · Cullowhee, NC	88 82–88	$68,774/yr	High	39.2x
13	Nursing (RN/BSN) Appalachian State University · Boone, NC	88 82–87	$69,420/yr	High	24.2x
14	Fire Protection & Safety Fayetteville State University · Fayetteville, NC	84 80–85	$67,586/yr	Moderate	50.4x
15	Computer Science North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC	89 79–91	$81,174/yr	Very High	29.2x
16	IT Management North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC	88 80–91	$72,961/yr	Very High	26.0x
17	Computer Science University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC	89 79–92	$90,293/yr	Very High	33.8x
18	Nursing (RN/BSN) University of North Carolina at Greensboro · Greensboro, NC	87 81–87	$68,115/yr	High	25.1x
19	Computer & Information Science North Carolina Central University · Durham, NC	89 79–91	$74,597/yr	Very High	27.5x
20	Pharmacy North Carolina Central University · Durham, NC	88 81–90	$62,022/yr	High	34.4x
21	Computer Science North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC	89 79–91	$85,809/yr	Very High	30.3x
22	Business Administration University of North Carolina Wilmington · Wilmington, NC	87 80–89	$48,369/yr	High	24.7x
23	Finance Appalachian State University · Boone, NC	85 77–88	$52,004/yr	Very High	28.2x
24	Computer & Information Science East Carolina University · Greenville, NC	88 78–90	$69,442/yr	Very High	34.1x
25	Nursing (RN/BSN) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC	88 82–86	$71,594/yr	High	20.4x
26	Computer Science Appalachian State University · Boone, NC	86 76–89	$68,675/yr	Very High	33.0x
27	Finance East Carolina University · Greenville, NC	84 77–88	$51,501/yr	Very High	25.3x
28	General Sales East Carolina University · Greenville, NC	85 81–86	$52,684/yr	High	16.9x
29	Business Administration University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	85 79–87	$46,272/yr	High	21.2x
30	Finance University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	84 78–88	$51,628/yr	Very High	26.1x
31	Management Science & Analytics Appalachian State University · Boone, NC	87 80–88	$56,340/yr	Very High	17.7x
32	Computer Science East Carolina University · Greenville, NC	86 75–88	$65,958/yr	Very High	29.3x
33	Business Administration East Carolina University · Greenville, NC	85 78–87	$45,497/yr	High	20.9x
34	Business Administration North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC	85 79–86	$45,114/yr	High	21.3x
35	Information Science University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC	87 76–89	$75,834/yr	Very High	27.5x
36	Computer Science University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	86 76–89	$67,704/yr	Very High	31.4x
37	Allied Health & Diagnostic Professions University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	82 78–82	$67,997/yr	Moderate	25.4x
38	International Business University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	85 79–87	$53,036/yr	Very High	22.1x
39	Computer Science University of North Carolina at Greensboro · Greensboro, NC	86 75–89	$67,781/yr	Very High	33.5x
40	Computer Science University of North Carolina Wilmington · Wilmington, NC	86 75–89	$66,977/yr	Very High	32.6x
41	Business Administration Appalachian State University · Boone, NC	83 77–85	$44,126/yr	High	19.0x
42	Accounting Appalachian State University · Boone, NC	83 75–87	$55,671/yr	Very High	24.9x
43	Teacher Education (General) North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC	82 80–81	$49,099/yr	High	17.7x
44	Business Administration University of North Carolina Asheville · Asheville, NC	84 78–85	$44,945/yr	High	18.3x
45	Economics University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC	84 77–87	$65,344/yr	Very High	25.9x
46	Computer Engineering North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC	85 75–88	$82,997/yr	Very High	30.2x
47	Accounting North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC	82 74–86	$56,606/yr	Very High	22.5x
48	Teacher Education (General) University of North Carolina at Pembroke · Pembroke, NC	81 78–82	$42,973/yr	High	30.7x
49	Criminal Justice Western Carolina University · Cullowhee, NC	80 76–82	$38,682/yr	Moderate	28.5x
50	Teacher Education (General) Fayetteville State University · Fayetteville, NC	80 77–81	$42,080/yr	High	26.7x
51	Computer Engineering North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC	85 76–88	$80,685/yr	Very High	28.9x
52	Accounting North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC	82 74–85	$50,736/yr	Very High	26.1x
53	Computer & Information Science University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	85 75–87	$60,639/yr	Very High	20.0x
54	Accounting University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	82 74–86	$50,928/yr	Very High	26.1x
55	Management Science & Analytics University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	86 78–86	$51,384/yr	Very High	16.8x
56	Teacher Education (General) North Carolina Central University · Durham, NC	81 79–79	$46,773/yr	High	17.2x
57	Teacher Education (Subject-Specific) University of North Carolina at Pembroke · Pembroke, NC	82 77–83	$42,829/yr	High	32.0x
58	Allied Health & Diagnostic Professions Western Carolina University · Cullowhee, NC	79 75–79	$53,398/yr	Moderate	30.5x
59	Business Administration Western Carolina University · Cullowhee, NC	82 76–84	$39,513/yr	High	27.1x
60	International Business Appalachian State University · Boone, NC	81 73–85	$43,989/yr	Very High	25.4x
61	Computer Science Fayetteville State University · Fayetteville, NC	83 73–85	$50,940/yr	Very High	36.9x
62	Accounting University of North Carolina Asheville · Asheville, NC	82 75–84	$53,705/yr	Very High	19.5x
63	Computer Engineering University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	83 73–86	$71,117/yr	Very High	34.8x
64	Business Administration University of North Carolina at Greensboro · Greensboro, NC	82 76–83	$43,451/yr	High	17.3x
65	Accounting North Carolina Central University · Durham, NC	81 73–84	$48,489/yr	Very High	22.7x
66	Business Administration University of North Carolina at Pembroke · Pembroke, NC	81 75–83	$36,602/yr	High	39.9x
67	Teacher Education (General) Western Carolina University · Cullowhee, NC	79 76–79	$40,594/yr	High	23.8x
68	Finance Western Carolina University · Cullowhee, NC	80 73–83	$40,575/yr	Very High	34.7x
69	Construction Management Appalachian State University · Boone, NC	81 74–82	$59,809/yr	High	24.5x
70	Nursing (RN/BSN) Cabarrus College of Health Sciences · Concord, NC	83 78–80	$73,944/yr	High	12.0x
71	Accounting East Carolina University · Greenville, NC	80 72–83	$48,351/yr	Very High	21.2x
72	Health Administration University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC	82 76–82	$49,967/yr	High	12.9x
73	Agricultural Business North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC	77 73–80	$46,849/yr	High	17.4x
74	Computer & Information Science University of North Carolina at Pembroke · Pembroke, NC	82 72–84	$45,532/yr	Very High	46.9x
75	Criminal Justice University of North Carolina at Pembroke · Pembroke, NC	78 74–80	$35,553/yr	Moderate	31.1x
76	Teacher Education (Subject-Specific) Western Carolina University · Cullowhee, NC	80 76–82	$41,444/yr	High	25.3x
77	Business (General) Strayer University-North Carolina · Greensboro, NC	81 76–80	$55,431/yr	High	10.6x
78	Nursing (RN/BSN) Chamberlain University-North Carolina · Charlotte, NC	83 78–79	$83,188/yr	High	10.8x
79	Health Administration East Carolina University · Greenville, NC	78 70–82	$38,900/yr	High	20.9x
80	Public Health North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC	82 75–82	$58,660/yr	High	20.7x
81	Computer Science University of North Carolina Asheville · Asheville, NC	81 68–84	$48,076/yr	Very High	30.5x
82	Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	75 72–76	$60,048/yr	Moderate	25.9x
83	Accounting University of North Carolina at Greensboro · Greensboro, NC	79 71–81	$47,207/yr	Very High	19.0x
84	Finance University of North Carolina at Greensboro · Greensboro, NC	77 69–81	$40,445/yr	Very High	21.2x
85	Computer & Information Science University of North Carolina Wilmington · Wilmington, NC	83 73–84	$54,105/yr	Very High	17.5x
86	Computer Science Winston-Salem State University · Winston-Salem, NC	81 70–82	$50,927/yr	Very High	20.6x
87	Teacher Education (General) Winston-Salem State University · Winston-Salem, NC	78 76–76	$43,077/yr	High	15.9x
88	Computer & Information Science Strayer University-North Carolina · Greensboro, NC	82 70–82	$67,315/yr	Very High	14.0x
89	Health Administration Appalachian State University · Boone, NC	76 68–80	$37,911/yr	High	18.6x
90	Teacher Education (General) East Carolina University · Greenville, NC	77 75–75	$42,690/yr	High	14.8x
91	Medical Laboratory Science East Carolina University · Greenville, NC	75 72–74	$60,441/yr	Moderate	20.4x
92	Human Resources University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC	78 73–80	$52,217/yr	High	17.5x
93	Teacher Education (General) University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	77 76–75	$42,789/yr	High	14.7x
94	Criminal Justice University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	75 71–77	$36,155/yr	Moderate	17.5x
95	Teacher Education (General) University of North Carolina at Greensboro · Greensboro, NC	77 76–75	$43,342/yr	High	14.3x
96	Teacher Education (General) North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC	76 75–75	$44,979/yr	High	13.4x
97	Teacher Education (Subject-Specific) North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC	78 74–79	$45,211/yr	High	15.0x
98	Recreation & Parks Management North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC	75 72–75	$38,116/yr	Moderate	13.3x
99	Medical Laboratory Science Winston-Salem State University · Winston-Salem, NC	76 73–75	$60,442/yr	Moderate	21.4x
100	Accounting Winston-Salem State University · Winston-Salem, NC	78 71–81	$45,495/yr	Very High	19.0x

Methodology

This ranking includes the top 100 programs at North Carolina colleges and universities, drawn from 733 total programs with earnings data. Programs are ranked by DegreeWorth Score (0–100), which combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and tuition ROI.

Only in-state tuition is used for ROI calculations. Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best college program in North Carolina?

By DegreeWorth Score, Business Administration at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranks #1 in North Carolina with a score of 95/100 and graduate earnings of $85,618/yr.

How many college programs are in North Carolina?

Our database includes 733 programs across North Carolina colleges with reported earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education.

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Last updated 2025.