2026 Best Value Electrician Schools in North Carolina
[Electrician](/majors/construction-trades/electrical-power-transmission-installers/electrician/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 38 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for electrician students.
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2026 Best Value Electrician Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in electrician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Electrician Schools
Leading the list is Durham Technical Community College, our #1 best value for electrician in North Carolina. Located in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,240, with out-of-state students paying around $7,531. Students borrow a median of $20,408 to complete the electrician program here. Soon after graduation, electrician degree recipients from Durham Technical Community College generally make around $46,293. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in electrician will find it at Central Piedmont Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,792, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Electrician graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Early-career electrician graduates make about $40,629. That is a strong return on a $11,861 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cleveland Community College earned it the #3 place for electrician. Set in the town of Shelby, Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,602, with out-of-state students paying around $8,746. Typical student debt for electrician graduates is $7,131. Soon after graduation, electrician degree recipients from Cleveland Community College generally make around $39,891. Set against $7,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fayetteville Technical Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value electrician schools. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,628 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,772 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,909 to complete the electrician program here. Early-career electrician graduates make about $40,584. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rockingham Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in electrician, landing the #5 spot this year. Rockingham Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Wentworth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,966, compared with $6,574 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the electrician program here. Soon after graduation, electrician degree recipients from Rockingham Community College generally make around $50,048. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Nash Community College landed the #6 spot for electrician value this year. Located in the rural area of Rocky Mount, Nash Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,866, while out-of-state students pay about $8,866. Typical student debt for electrician graduates is $16,969. Electrician graduates of Nash Community College earn a median of $52,474 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,969 median debt.
Sampson Community College earned the #7 position for value in electrician this year. Sampson Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Clinton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,877, with out-of-state students paying around $9,789. Students borrow a median of $12,596 to complete the electrician program here. Electrician graduates of Sampson Community College earn a median of $45,929 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,596 median debt.
Haywood Community College earned the #8 position for value in electrician this year. Set in the rural area of Clyde, Haywood Community College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,580 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,724. Electrician graduates of Haywood Community College earn a median of $35,767 early in their careers.
James Sprunt Community College landed the #9 spot for electrician value this year. Located in the rural area of Kenansville, James Sprunt Community College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,592, while out-of-state students pay about $8,736. Students borrow a median of $11,278 to complete the electrician program here. Electrician graduates of James Sprunt Community College earn a median of $35,264 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Vance Granville Community College placed #10 among the best values for electrician. Located in the town of Henderson, Vance Granville Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,944, with out-of-state students paying around $6,552. Students borrow a median of $14,833 to complete the electrician program here. Early-career electrician graduates make about $43,272. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Surry Community College landed the #11 spot for electrician value this year. Surry Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Dobson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,668, compared with $8,812 for out-of-state students. Electrician graduates carry a median of $9,537 in student loans. Electrician graduates of Surry Community College earn a median of $47,188 early in their careers. Set against $9,537 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rowan Cabarrus Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value electrician schools. Located in the suburb of Salisbury, Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,064, with out-of-state students paying around $6,672. Students borrow a median of $10,867 to complete the electrician program here. Electrician graduates of Rowan Cabarrus Community College earn a median of $34,351 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,867 median debt.
Robeson Community College came in at #13 for value in electrician this year. Set in the town of Lumberton, Robeson Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,604, while out-of-state students pay about $8,748. Students borrow a median of $9,949 to complete the electrician program here. Early-career electrician graduates make about $40,495. That is a strong return on a $9,949 median debt.
Cape Fear Community College earned the #14 position for value in electrician this year. Cape Fear Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. Students from in state pay about $2,748 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,892. Students borrow a median of $12,388 to complete the electrician program here. Soon after graduation, electrician degree recipients from Cape Fear Community College generally make around $42,889. Set against $12,388 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gaston College landed the #15 spot for electrician value this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Gaston College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,186, with out-of-state students paying around $9,330. Students borrow a median of $10,915 to complete the electrician program here. Early-career electrician graduates make about $39,937. That is a strong return on a $10,915 median debt.
Forsyth Technical Community College landed the #16 spot for electrician value this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,276, while out-of-state students pay about $6,884. Typical student debt for electrician graduates is $16,374. Electrician graduates of Forsyth Technical Community College earn a median of $38,094 early in their careers. Set against $16,374 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Isothermal Community College landed the #17 spot for electrician value this year. Isothermal Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Spindale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,030, compared with $6,638 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for electrician graduates is $6,625. Soon after graduation, electrician degree recipients from Isothermal Community College generally make around $47,389. That is a strong return on a $6,625 median debt.
Wake Technical Community College came in at #18 for value in electrician this year. Wake Technical Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Raleigh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,254, compared with $6,862 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for electrician graduates is $9,500. Early-career electrician graduates make about $38,673. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Pitt Community College earned the #19 position for value in electrician this year. Set in the suburb of Winterville, Pitt Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,871 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,087. Typical student debt for electrician graduates is $19,741. Early-career electrician graduates make about $43,022. Set against $19,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Randolph Community College came in at #20 for value in electrician this year. Randolph Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Asheboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,416, compared with $8,176 for out-of-state students. Electrician graduates of Randolph Community College earn a median of $32,198 early in their careers.
Montgomery Community College placed #21 among the best values for electrician. Montgomery Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Troy. In-state tuition and fees average $2,538, compared with $8,682 for out-of-state students. Electrician graduates of Montgomery Community College earn a median of $38,983 early in their careers.
Coastal Carolina Community College landed the #22 spot for electrician value this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Coastal Carolina Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,512, compared with $8,656 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,125 to complete the electrician program here. Early-career electrician graduates make about $37,831. That is a strong return on a $7,125 median debt.
Bladen Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value electrician schools. Located in the rural area of Dublin, Bladen Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $2,314 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,690 for out-of-state students. Electrician graduates carry a median of $9,905 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrician degree recipients from Bladen Community College generally make around $45,752. Set against $9,905 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Catawba Valley Community College earned the #24 position for value in electrician this year. Set in the city of Hickory, Catawba Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,427, with out-of-state students paying around $7,803. Typical student debt for electrician graduates is $9,842. Early-career electrician graduates make about $38,219. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value electrician schools. Set in the city of Asheville, Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,882, with out-of-state students paying around $9,026. Students borrow a median of $18,883 to complete the electrician program here. Soon after graduation, electrician degree recipients from Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College generally make around $37,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 26 Best Value Electrician Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for electrician this year:
More Electrician Rankings
View All Electrician Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 38 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
