Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina 2023

Published: Mar 25, 2021
Updated: Sep 8, 2023

Here are the most affordable colleges and universities in North Carolina. Our list will help you find the right kind of school for you, at a price you can afford.

10 Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina 2022

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
North Carolina State University
Winston-Salem State University
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
East Carolina University
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
North Carolina Central University
Shaw University
Appalachian State University
North Carolina A&T State University

East Carolina University 94%
University of North Carolina at Pembroke 92%
University of North Carolina at Greensboro 91%
Appalachian State University 85%
University of North Carolina at Asheville 82%
Fayetteville State University 82%
Winston-Salem State University 81%
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 79%
Western Carolina University 79%
Elizabeth City State University 77%

University of North Carolina at Charlotte 20 to 1
East Carolina University 19 to 1
North Carolina A&T State University 19 to 1
Western Carolina University 17 to 1
Fayetteville State University 17 to 1
University of North Carolina Wilmington 17 to 1
North Carolina Central University 16 to 1
Winston-Salem State University 16 to 1
Elizabeth City State University 16 to 1
University of North Carolina at Greensboro 16 to 1

St. Augustine's University $16,896
Shaw University $16,480
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill $7,019
North Carolina State University $6,535
East Carolina University $4,452
University of North Carolina Wilmington $4,443
University of North Carolina at Greensboro $4,422
Appalachian State University $4,242
University of North Carolina at Asheville $4,122
University of North Carolina at Charlotte $3,812

St. Augustine's University $10,800
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill $10,552
Shaw University $10,404
North Carolina State University $9,095
University of North Carolina at Greensboro $5,219
University of North Carolina at Asheville $4,914
Appalachian State University $4,839
East Carolina University $4,749
North Carolina A&T State University $4,745
North Carolina Central University $4,740

St. Augustine's University
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Fayetteville State University
Elizabeth City State University
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
University of North Carolina at Asheville
Western Carolina University
North Carolina A&T State University
Appalachian State University
Shaw University

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 20%
North Carolina State University 47%
North Carolina A&T State University 57%
Shaw University 65%
University of North Carolina Wilmington 68%
St. Augustine's University 75%
North Carolina Central University 76%
Elizabeth City State University 77%
Western Carolina University 79%
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 79%

St. Augustine's University 12 to 1
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 13 to 1
University of North Carolina at Asheville 13 to 1
Shaw University 14 to 1
North Carolina State University 14 to 1
University of North Carolina at Pembroke 15 to 1
North Carolina Central University 16 to 1
Winston-Salem State University 16 to 1
Elizabeth City State University 16 to 1
University of North Carolina at Greensboro 16 to 1

Elizabeth City State University $1,000
Western Carolina University $1,000
University of North Carolina at Pembroke $1,000
Fayetteville State University $2,982
Winston-Salem State University $3,401
North Carolina A&T State University $3,540
North Carolina Central University $3,728
University of North Carolina at Charlotte $3,812
University of North Carolina at Asheville $4,122
Appalachian State University $4,242

Elizabeth City State University $3,375
Fayetteville State University $3,438
Winston-Salem State University $3,872
University of North Carolina at Pembroke $4,280
University of North Carolina at Charlotte $4,337
Western Carolina University $4,435
University of North Carolina Wilmington $4,719
North Carolina Central University $4,740
North Carolina A&T State University $4,745
East Carolina University $4,749

Key Takeaways

The most affordable colleges in North Carolina are among the cheapest in America and offer a high education caliber. North Carolina State University and UNC-Chapel Hill are two of the most prestigious schools in the University of North Carolina system.
The cheapest colleges in North Carolina still offer students several financial aid opportunities from state funding to lessen the financial burden.
In addition to cheap universities and financial aid packages, the North Carolina government offers public services that help students attain more affordable college living.

Table of Contents

Exploring NC’s Top-Quality, Inexpensive Colleges

North Carolina is the perfect place for students pursuing higher education. As the site of the first public university in the US, North Carolina has a long history of supporting equal access to higher education for all citizens. As a result, students worldwide are flying to North Carolina to obtain a college degree to fulfill their academic and professional goals.

North Carolina might be the perfect study place for you if you’re seeking the best of both worlds: the laid-back pace of life, the subtropical environment, and a high caliber of education offered up in combination with booming, intellectual, and cultural cities that don’t fit any preconceptions at all.

Average Cost of College Education in North Carolina

The average cost of attending college in North Carolina for in-state students is $3,500 a semester. Tuition costs in North Carolina’s public institutions often fall in this range. Additionally, students attending college in North Carolina have access to many scholarships and financial aid programs.

A few of the schools with the largest financial aid packages include:

Western Carolina University, Cullowhee
North Carolina State University
Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City
East Carolina University, Greenville
North Carolina Central University, Durham
Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville
Appalachian State University, Boone
University Of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina, Wilmington

The total cost of attending college includes the price of books, transportation, and accommodation in addition to tuition and fees. The estimated annual cost of room and board is between $8,556 and $12,857, and the annual cost of books surpasses $958.

More Affordable College Living in North Carolina

With the inflation going on in the US even the cheapest college degree may be costly for many college students. North Carolina is one of the leading US states to offer more affordable college living. Some of the most important resources you should take note of include the following:

North Carolina Department of Health Human Services (DHHS):This is the go-to department if you’re having trouble paying your essential bills. This aid provides homelessness/housing assistance, temporary assistance for needy families, child care support, and more.
North Carolina Community Action Agency: Students can contact the NCAA for services and programs, including job training, youth development, Head Start, food pantries, etc., to help low-income residents. County-specific organizations are also featured in the city biographies that follow.

Students can also call 2-1-1 or go to the NC 211 website. 211 is a free, round-the-clock program that links citizens of North Carolina with social services and neighborhood groups. Counselors at 211 can direct callers to places that offer free or low-cost medical treatment, inexpensive child care services, free or low-cost food, clothing, housing, and more. They can assist with practically any difficulty.

The Fastest-Growing Jobs in North Carolina

Understanding employment growth for your particular professional path is vital as you continue to narrow down your alternatives for the best cheapest universities in North Carolina.

According to Zippia, here are the fastest-growing jobs in North Carolina:

Consultant And Sales Representative
Vice President, Product and Marketing
Revenue Officer
President and Chief Technology Officer
Executive Vice President Of Sales
Senior Director, Product Management
Senior Director, Operations
President Of Operations
Vice President, Product Management
Executive Vice President

Colleges and Universities in North Carolina

Among these schools are over 60 public colleges and universities, including the state’s largest school, North Carolina State University, which serves almost 30,000 students. Tuition costs average about $9,000, just below the national average, and students also have the option to enroll in over 1,000 online courses. Another notable public school is the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which is one of the country’s oldest universities.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

The 25,000 students who attend UNC will walk the same halls as Francis Collins, Thomas Wolfe, and former president James K. Polk. North Carolina’s private schools have also made a name for themselves, including the well-known Duke University located in Durham. Here, students can earn degrees in some of the top programs, like nursing, political science, and business. Additionally, students can attend one of the many small schools which serve less than 5,000 students, like Campbell University in Buies Creek, or a religiously affiliated school, like Mid-Atlantic Christian University in Elizabeth City.

From its coastal beaches to its lush forests, it’s no wonder the Wright Brothers dreamed of taking flight over North Carolina. This state is rich with history, scenic views, and famous people who once called it home, like John Coltrane and Nicholas Sparks. Students hoping to earn their associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree also have the option of choosing from over 100 schools in the Tar Heel State.

Whether you prefer ocean views or wooded forests, North Carolina has something for everyone. Discover more about the state’s higher learning options.

What are North Carolina’s Colleges & Universities?

North Carolina’s Best Overall

How do we determine North Carolina's best affordable colleges and universities?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

There are 22 affordable colleges and universities in North Carolina with stated tuitions and fees under $20,000/year. The following list of the most affordable colleges and universities in North Carolina is composed entirely of schools offering bachelor’s degree programs, have stated tuition and fees near or under the national average of $16,000/year, and are fully accredited colleges.

Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina 2022

These schools are ranked by academic excellence, and all under $20,000/year.

Build your own college ranking

North Carolina’s Most Affordable Colleges in Your Area of Interest

2021 Ranking Archive

Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina 2023

10 Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina 2022

Key Takeaways

Exploring NC’s Top-Quality, Inexpensive Colleges

Average Cost of College Education in North Carolina

More Affordable College Living in North Carolina

The Fastest-Growing Jobs in North Carolina

Colleges and Universities in North Carolina

What are North Carolina’s Colleges & Universities?

Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina 2022

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

North Carolina State University’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Most Influential Alumni

East Carolina University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Most Influential Alumni

University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Appalachian State University’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

North Carolina A&T State University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Most Influential Alumni

Western Carolina University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

Fayetteville State University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Most Influential Alumni

Winston-Salem State University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Most Influential Alumni

University of North Carolina at Pembroke’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Most Influential Alumni

Elizabeth City State University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Most Influential Alumni

North Carolina’s Most Affordable Colleges in Your Area of Interest