2026 Best Value Management Science Schools in North Carolina
[Management Science](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/management-science-quantitative-methods/management-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for management science students.
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2026 Best Value Management Science Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in management science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Management Science Schools
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #1 spot for value among management science schools in North Carolina. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $15,117. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $61,361. Set against $15,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wake Technical Community College earned it the #2 place for management science. Wake Technical Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Raleigh. Students from in state pay about $2,254 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,862. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $17,125. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $38,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes University Of North Carolina At Charlotte one of the best values for management science. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,239, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the management science program here. Management Science graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $77,452 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte admits about 80% of applicants.
Appalachian State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value management science schools. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,579, with out-of-state students paying around $25,212. Management Science graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Early-career management science graduates make about $42,340. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Appalachian State University admits about 90% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned it the #5 place for management science. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $22,113. Early-career management science graduates make about $59,622. Set against $22,113 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington placed #6 among the best values for management science. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. Students from in state pay about $7,277 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,152. Management Science graduates carry a median of $23,013 in student loans. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $75,056. That is a strong return on a $23,013 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Lenoir Rhyne University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value management science schools. Set in the city of Hickory, Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,900. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $27,000. Management Science graduates of Lenoir Rhyne University earn a median of $45,534 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Wake Forest University placed #8 among the best values for management science. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,642. Management Science graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $82,055. That is a strong return on a $21,577 median debt. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
Elon University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value management science schools. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. Students from in state pay about $46,958 in tuition and fees. Management Science graduates carry a median of $21,619 in student loans. Early-career management science graduates make about $50,463. That is a strong return on a $21,619 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
