SmartAsset, has released its sixth annual study on the colleges that give students the best return on their educational investment. To find the best value colleges in North Carolina, SmartAsset measured categories, including scholarships provided, starting salary, tuition, living costs and retention rate.
Click here to find additional details on the study, including the methodology and interactive map, with the top schools in each state.
| Rank | School | City | Avg. Scholarships and Grants | Avg. Starting Salary | College Tuition * | Student Living Costs | Student Retention Rate | College Education Value Index |
| 1 | Duke University | Durham, NC | $45,457 | $71,100 | $53,500 | $18,264 | 98% | 73.12 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC | $17,030 | $55,000 | $9,005 | $16,564 | 97% | 58.47 |
| 3 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Raleigh, NC | $10,097 | $57,300 | $9,058 | $14,642 | 94% | 57.74 |
| 4 | Wake Forest University | Winston Salem, NC | $35,473 | $60,700 | $51,400 | $17,730 | 96% | 50.38 |
| 5 | North Carolina A & T State University | Greensboro, NC | $8,202 | $52,600 | $6,526 | $11,360 | 77% | 48.10 |
| 6 | Appalachian State University | Boone, NC | $7,902 | $46,600 | $7,302 | $11,710 | 87% | 41.73 |
| 7 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | $7,021 | $52,500 | $6,832 | $16,815 | 82% | 41.51 |
| 8 | East Carolina University | Greenville, NC | $7,795 | $48,400 | $7,143 | $14,857 | 81% | 37.81 |
| 9 | Elon University | Elon, NC | $14,442 | $53,600 | $34,273 | $15,369 | 90% | 35.20 |
| 10 | Winston-Salem State University | Winston Salem, NC | $8,244 | $45,600 | $5,941 | $13,886 | 77% | 34.34 |
