College data resource
North Carolina College Tuition 2026 - Compare 172 Schools
North Carolina has 172 higher education institutions in this directory. Compare tuition, net price, admissions selectivity, aid, programs and outcome signals before opening city or school pages.
North Carolina directory
172
Schools
91
Cities
Quick cost snapshot
Average in-state tuition
$13,986
Average out-of-state tuition
$18,127
Average attendance cost
$27,349
Average net price
$14,661
Average acceptance rate
69.70%
Admissions selectivity
Average SAT signal
1,171
Where reported
Average ACT signal
22
Where reported
Average salary after graduation
$39,480
10-year median earnings
Quick Answer: How Much Does College Cost in North Carolina?
In North Carolina, reported average in-state tuition is $13,986, out-of-state tuition is $18,127, and average net price is $14,661 among schools with available data.
North Carolina college cost research is different from many states because students may compare public universities, private nonprofit colleges, community colleges and career-focused institutions. Residency, transfer path, housing location and aid eligibility can change the real cost more than tuition alone.
Use this directory to compare tuition, net price, admissions selectivity, aid, programs and outcome signals across public and private institutions before opening city or school profiles.
Official North Carolina Higher Education Resources
Use these official, state-verified resources and portals to verify admissions guidelines, apply for financial aid, and check eligibility deadlines.
Popular North Carolina College Guides & Profiles
Direct links to the largest and most researched higher education profiles in North Carolina by undergraduate enrollment.
Best Colleges in North Carolina by Category
Use these curated lists to find schools that match specific financial, selective, or transfer paths in North Carolina.
Best Affordable Public
Sorted by lowest average net price for in-state residents after accounting for grants and scholarships.
Best Low Net Price
Top overall institutions in North Carolina with the lowest reported net price after financial aid.
Best Selective
Most competitive admissions profiles, sorted by lowest overall acceptance rate.
Best High-Salary Outcomes
Schools whose graduates report the highest median earnings 10 years after entry.
Best Community Colleges
Top associate degree programs in North Carolina ranked by lowest overall net price.
Best Transfer-Friendly
Colleges and universities reporting the highest rates of student transfers.
State-specific research path
North Carolina Tuition, Admissions, Aid and ROI Compared With National Averages
Start with statewide averages, then open city and school pages for university-specific tuition fees, in-state tuition, out-of-state tuition, net price, admissions requirements, how to apply notes, financial aid, scholarships, majors, graduation rate, salary after graduation and ROI.
Tuition Fees and Cost Per Year
North Carolina averages $13,986 in-state tuition and $18,127 out-of-state tuition; national averages are $17,233 and $20,567.
Acceptance, SAT, ACT and GPA
Statewide reported averages are 69.70% acceptance rate, 1,171 SAT and 22 ACT; the national acceptance average is 72.69%.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
150 schools report net price data. North Carolina average net price is $14,661 versus the national average of $17,506.
Majors, Salary and ROI
153 schools report salary data; statewide 10-year earnings average $39,480 versus $43,639 nationally.
State education map
North Carolina tuition fees, admissions and ROI landscape
Use tuition fees, in-state and out-of-state tuition, net price, acceptance rate, admissions, majors, graduation and salary signals to understand how North Carolina higher education options compare before opening city and school pages.
Most Affordable Net Price in North CarolinaLowest Net Price and Financial Aid in North Carolina
Wilkes Community College Net Price, Financial Aid and Scholarship Research
$-28
Most Selective Admissions in North Carolina
Duke University Acceptance Rate, SAT and ACT Research
6.78%
North Carolina College Directory
Use the sections below to move from statewide tuition averages into city hubs, high-cost schools, lower net price options and a complete A-Z school crawl path.
Top North Carolina Cities for Tuition Fees, Admissions Requirements, Majors and ROI
Cities are sorted by school count so readers can quickly reach local pages for tuition fees, in-state and out-of-state tuition, acceptance rate, admissions requirements, financial aid, majors, graduation rate, salary after graduation and ROI.
Highest Tuition Fee and Cost Per Year Schools in North Carolina
Schools below are sorted by reported out-of-state tuition from College Scorecard cost fields. Open a profile to compare tuition fees with net price, financial aid, scholarships, graduation rate, salary after graduation and ROI.
Lowest Net Price, Financial Aid and Scholarship Research in North Carolina
Schools below are sorted by average net price after grants and scholarships where reported. Use them as starting points for financial aid, scholarship, cost per year and ROI research.
Top North Carolina schools by enrollmentLargest North Carolina University Guides for Tuition Fees, Admissions, Majors, Salary and ROI
The school list is sorted by undergraduate enrollment when that field is reported, with school name as the secondary sort. Use each row to open a broader university guide covering tuition fees, in-state tuition, out-of-state tuition, cost per year, net price, acceptance rate, SAT and ACT signals, admissions requirements, how to apply resources, financial aid, scholarships, majors, graduation rate, salary after graduation and ROI.
All North Carolina Schools A-Z
This complete crawlable list gives search engines and readers direct access to every North Carolina school profile without relying on deep pagination.
North Carolina University FAQ
What are average North Carolina university tuition fees, in-state tuition and out-of-state tuition?
The average in-state tuition for North Carolina schools with reported tuition is $13,986. The average out-of-state tuition is $18,127, and average cost per year is $27,349 where reported.
Where can I compare North Carolina acceptance rate, SAT requirements, ACT requirements and GPA requirements?
This page summarizes North Carolina acceptance rate data at 69.70% where reported, plus SAT and ACT coverage when available. GPA requirements and application deadlines are usually school-specific, so open each university profile and verify final requirements with the official admissions office.
How do North Carolina financial aid, scholarships and net price compare?
The average net price for North Carolina schools with reported net price data is $14,661. Use net price with Pell Grant, loan and scholarship notes on school pages before relying on published tuition fees alone.
Can I research North Carolina majors, best programs and rankings here?
School profiles include program and major signals where the College Scorecard and IPEDS data reports them. Rankings and best-program claims are treated as research prompts, not invented rankings, so use the listed school pages and official catalogs for final program decisions.
Which North Carolina university has the strongest salary after graduation and ROI signal?
North Carolina schools vary significantly by program type. Nursing, medical and technical programs often report the highest 10-year earnings, while community colleges and career schools can have lower tuition and different completion patterns. Compare salary after graduation relative to tuition, net price, debt and graduation rate for a complete ROI picture.