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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 $67,664/yr in graduate earnings.

Programs in NC

733

Avg Earnings (Top 100)

$67,664/yr

Avg DW Score

78/100

#1 Program

Computer Science

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	Computer Science University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC	90 83–91	$90,293/yr	Very High	33.8x
2	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Fayetteville State University · Fayetteville, NC	89 86–88	$73,448/yr	High	54.3x
3	Computer Science North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC	89 82–90	$85,809/yr	Very High	30.3x
4	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Winston-Salem State University · Winston-Salem, NC	88 85–88	$72,639/yr	High	32.1x
5	Computer and Information Sciences, General East Carolina University · Greenville, NC	87 81–88	$69,442/yr	Very High	34.1x
6	Computer Science North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC	87 79–88	$81,174/yr	Very High	29.2x
7	Business Administration University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC	87 83–87	$85,618/yr	High	33.9x
8	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration North Carolina Central University · Durham, NC	87 84–87	$76,142/yr	High	29.2x
9	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration University of North Carolina Wilmington · Wilmington, NC	87 84–87	$74,463/yr	High	26.3x
10	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration University of North Carolina at Pembroke · Pembroke, NC	87 84–87	$73,906/yr	High	52.0x
11	Computer Science Appalachian State University · Boone, NC	86 80–88	$68,675/yr	Very High	33.0x
12	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration East Carolina University · Greenville, NC	86 83–86	$72,051/yr	High	25.0x
13	Computer Science University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	86 79–87	$67,704/yr	Very High	31.4x
14	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	86 84–86	$73,445/yr	High	25.9x
15	Computer Science University of North Carolina at Greensboro · Greensboro, NC	86 79–87	$67,781/yr	Very High	33.5x
16	Computer Engineering North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC	86 79–88	$82,997/yr	Very High	30.2x
17	Computer Science University of North Carolina Wilmington · Wilmington, NC	86 79–87	$66,977/yr	Very High	32.6x
18	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Appalachian State University · Boone, NC	85 83–85	$69,420/yr	High	24.2x
19	Computer Science East Carolina University · Greenville, NC	85 78–86	$65,958/yr	Very High	29.3x
20	Information Science/Studies University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC	85 79–86	$75,834/yr	Very High	27.5x
21	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC	85 82–85	$71,594/yr	High	20.4x
22	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration University of North Carolina at Greensboro · Greensboro, NC	85 83–85	$68,115/yr	High	25.1x
23	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Western Carolina University · Cullowhee, NC	85 83–85	$68,774/yr	High	39.2x
24	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC	84 81–84	$73,368/yr	High	23.4x
25	Computer Engineering University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	84 78–86	$71,117/yr	Very High	34.8x
26	Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences North Carolina Central University · Durham, NC	84 82–84	$62,022/yr	High	34.4x
27	Finance and Financial Management Services Appalachian State University · Boone, NC	82 80–84	$52,004/yr	Very High	28.2x
28	Economics University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC	82 78–83	$65,344/yr	Very High	25.9x
29	Accounting and Related Services North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC	82 79–84	$56,606/yr	Very High	22.5x
30	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Chamberlain University-North Carolina · Charlotte, NC	82 79–82	$83,188/yr	High	10.8x
31	Accounting and Related Services Appalachian State University · Boone, NC	81 78–83	$55,671/yr	Very High	24.9x
32	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Cabarrus College of Health Sciences · Concord, NC	81 79–81	$73,944/yr	High	12.0x
33	Finance and Financial Management Services University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	81 78–82	$51,628/yr	Very High	26.1x
34	Computer and Information Sciences, General Strayer University-North Carolina · Greensboro, NC	81 75–82	$67,315/yr	Very High	14.0x
35	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration South University-High Point · High Point, NC	81 78–81	$77,635/yr	High	10.0x
36	Computer Science Duke University · Durham, NC	80 74–81	$133,356/yr	Very High	6.7x
37	Finance and Financial Management Services East Carolina University · Greenville, NC	80 78–82	$51,501/yr	Very High	25.3x
38	Computer Science University of North Carolina Asheville · Asheville, NC	80 74–81	$48,076/yr	Very High	30.5x
39	Accounting and Related Services University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	80 77–82	$50,928/yr	Very High	26.1x
40	Accounting and Related Services North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC	79 76–81	$50,736/yr	Very High	26.1x
41	Business Administration North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC	79 73–80	$56,877/yr	High	21.8x
42	Information Science/Studies Strayer University-North Carolina · Greensboro, NC	79 73–80	$71,167/yr	Very High	14.7x
43	Construction Management Appalachian State University · Boone, NC	78 76–79	$59,809/yr	High	24.5x
44	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration University of Mount Olive · Mount Olive, NC	78 75–78	$81,493/yr	High	7.6x
45	Applied Mathematics University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC	78 74–79	$75,105/yr	Very High	31.8x
46	Finance and Financial Management Services Wake Forest University · Winston-Salem, NC	78 75–80	$85,944/yr	Very High	4.4x
47	Public Administration Western Carolina University · Cullowhee, NC	77 73–78	$56,445/yr	High	32.8x
48	Computer Engineering Duke University · Durham, NC	76 71–77	$111,145/yr	Very High	5.6x
49	Economics Duke University · Durham, NC	76 72–77	$98,649/yr	Very High	5.5x
50	Accounting and Related Services East Carolina University · Greenville, NC	76 73–77	$48,351/yr	Very High	21.2x
51	Computer Science Fayetteville State University · Fayetteville, NC	76 69–77	$50,940/yr	Very High	36.9x
52	Electrical North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC	76 72–77	$81,213/yr	Very High	32.1x
53	Industrial Engineering North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC	76 73–76	$83,427/yr	High	33.1x
54	Accounting and Related Services University of North Carolina Asheville · Asheville, NC	76 73–78	$53,705/yr	Very High	19.5x
55	Computer and Information Sciences, General North Carolina Central University · Durham, NC	76 70–77	$74,597/yr	Very High	27.5x
56	Chemical Engineering North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC	76 73–77	$81,492/yr	High	28.1x
57	Business Administration University of North Carolina Wilmington · Wilmington, NC	76 70–77	$48,369/yr	High	24.7x
58	Computer and Information Sciences, General University of North Carolina at Pembroke · Pembroke, NC	76 72–77	$45,532/yr	Very High	46.9x
59	Computer Science Wake Forest University · Winston-Salem, NC	76 69–77	$75,625/yr	Very High	4.4x
60	Finance and Financial Management Services Elon University · Elon, NC	75 72–76	$66,614/yr	Very High	5.0x
61	Chemical Engineering North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC	75 72–76	$78,323/yr	High	31.3x
62	Mechanical Engineering North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC	75 72–76	$72,278/yr	Very High	31.4x
63	Allied Health Diagnostic University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	75 75–75	$67,997/yr	Moderate	25.4x
64	Accounting and Related Services North Carolina Central University · Durham, NC	75 73–77	$48,489/yr	Very High	22.7x
65	Aerospace North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC	75 73–75	$70,820/yr	High	25.5x
66	Electrical North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC	75 72–77	$77,687/yr	Very High	26.5x
67	Industrial Engineering North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC	75 73–76	$81,055/yr	High	26.1x
68	Accounting and Related Services Elon University · Elon, NC	74 71–76	$69,764/yr	Very High	4.8x
69	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Lees-McRae College · Banner Elk, NC	74 72–74	$69,776/yr	High	5.6x
70	Computer/Information Technology Administration North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC	74 69–76	$72,961/yr	Very High	26.0x
71	Computer Engineering North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC	74 67–75	$80,685/yr	Very High	28.9x
72	Electrical University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	74 71–75	$72,167/yr	Very High	30.2x
73	Mechanical Engineering University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	74 71–75	$69,178/yr	Very High	28.6x
74	International Business University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	74 68–75	$53,036/yr	Very High	22.1x
75	Civil Engineering North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC	74 72–75	$70,346/yr	High	22.9x
76	Mechanical Engineering North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC	74 71–75	$69,078/yr	Very High	24.6x
77	Computer Science Winston-Salem State University · Winston-Salem, NC	74 67–75	$50,927/yr	Very High	20.6x
78	International Business Appalachian State University · Boone, NC	73 67–73	$43,989/yr	Very High	25.4x
79	Fire Protection Fayetteville State University · Fayetteville, NC	73 66–73	$67,586/yr	Moderate	50.4x
80	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Gardner-Webb University · Boiling Springs, NC	73 71–73	$71,337/yr	High	5.0x
81	Civil Engineering North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC	73 71–75	$70,474/yr	High	27.2x
82	Mathematics University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC	73 68–75	$53,402/yr	Very High	27.3x
83	Civil Engineering University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	73 71–75	$67,934/yr	High	26.7x
84	Systems Engineering University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	73 69–74	$68,034/yr	Very High	29.9x
85	Business Administration University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	73 67–73	$46,272/yr	High	21.2x
86	Accounting and Related Services University of North Carolina at Greensboro · Greensboro, NC	73 71–75	$47,207/yr	Very High	19.0x
87	Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods Appalachian State University · Boone, NC	72 68–72	$56,340/yr	Very High	17.7x
88	Business Administration East Carolina University · Greenville, NC	72 66–73	$45,497/yr	High	20.9x
89	Computer and Information Sciences, General University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	72 66–73	$60,639/yr	Very High	20.0x
90	Biomedical/Medical Engineering North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC	72 69–73	$74,016/yr	High	26.9x
91	Insurance Appalachian State University · Boone, NC	71 69–72	$55,611/yr	Very High	25.6x
92	Economics East Carolina University · Greenville, NC	71 68–72	$46,425/yr	Very High	20.7x
93	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Methodist University · Fayetteville, NC	71 68–70	$70,746/yr	High	3.8x
94	Business Administration North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC	71 65–72	$45,114/yr	High	21.3x
95	Engineering, General University of North Carolina Asheville · Asheville, NC	71 69–72	$73,410/yr	High	29.7x
96	Computer Systems Networking University of North Carolina at Greensboro · Greensboro, NC	71 66–72	$48,077/yr	Very High	18.9x
97	Business/Managerial Economics North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC	71 68–73	$60,369/yr	Very High	21.7x
98	Business/Commerce, General Wake Forest University · Winston-Salem, NC	71 67–71	$76,722/yr	High	3.1x
99	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Wingate University · Wingate, NC	71 68–70	$68,877/yr	High	3.8x
100	Finance and Financial Management Services Western Carolina University · Cullowhee, NC	71 73–72	$40,575/yr	Very High	34.7x

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, Computer Science at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranks #1 in North Carolina with a score of 90/100 and graduate earnings of $90,293/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.