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Picking the right college is an important choice. Where you go could define your future. So how do you know which school is the best for you? Thanks to SmartAsset, these are the 10 best value colleges in North Carolina.

Where are college students in North Carolina getting the most return on their educational investment? In this study released the best colleges and universities were compared in each state. These colleges and universities were measured across five metrics, including scholarships, average starting salary for graduates, tuition, living costs, and student retention rate. These are the results.

Check out the top-performing schools in North Carolina below:

  • 10. Winston-Salem State University

    Rank School City, State Avg. Scholarships and Grants Avg. Starting Salary College Tuition Student Living Costs Student Retention Rate College Education Value
    10 Winston-Salem State University Winston Salem, NC $8,138 $50,500 $5,904 $14,230 77% 42.05
  • 9. Western Carolina University

    Rank School City, State Avg. Scholarships and Grants Avg. Starting Salary College Tuition Student Living Costs Student Retention Rate College Education Value
    9 Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC $5,641 $48,700 $3,926 $13,779 81% 42.07

     

  • 8. East Carolina University

    Rank School City, State Avg. Scholarships and Grants Avg. Starting Salary College Tuition Student Living Costs Student Retention Rate College Education Value
    8 East Carolina University Greenville, NC $7,722 $52,600 $7,188 $14,484 83% 45.77
  • 7. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

    Rank School City, State Avg. Scholarships and Grants Avg. Starting Salary College Tuition Student Living Costs Student Retention Rate College Education Value
    7 University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC $7,347 $56,800 $6,853 $16,841 85% 46.08
  • 6. Wake Forest University

    Rank School City, State Avg. Scholarships and Grants Avg. Starting Salary College Tuition Student Living Costs Student Retention Rate College Education Value
    6 Wake Forest University Winston Salem, NC $37,880 $65,300 $53,322 $18,316 95% 47.21
  • 5. Appalachian State University

    Rank School City, State Avg. Scholarships and Grants Avg. Starting Salary College Tuition Student Living Costs Student Retention Rate College Education Value
    5 Appalachian State University Boone, NC $8,130 $51,300 $7,364 $11,830 86% 52.83
  • 4. North Carolina A & T State University

    Rank School City, State Avg. Scholarships and Grants Avg. Starting Salary College Tuition Student Living Costs Student Retention Rate College Education Value
    4 North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro, NC $8,760 $57,600 $6,612 $11,524 80% 61.18
  • 3. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

    Rank School City, State Avg. Scholarships and Grants Avg. Starting Salary College Tuition Student Living Costs Student Retention Rate College Education Value
    3 North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC $10,175 $62,200 $9,101 $14,876 94% 63.81
  • 2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    Rank School City, State Avg. Scholarships and Grants Avg. Starting Salary College Tuition Student Living Costs Student Retention Rate College Education Value
    2 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC $15,936 $60,400 $8,987 $14,824 95% 66.10
  • 1. Duke University

    Rank School City, State Avg. Scholarships and Grants Avg. Starting Salary College Tuition Student Living Costs Student Retention Rate College Education Value
    1 Duke University Durham, NC $48,351 $76,800 $55,695 $18,644 97% 69.78

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