ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value English Schools in North Carolina

13 Colleges in the United States
$22,559 Avg Student Debt
$60,370 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value English Badge [English](/majors/english-language-literature/general-english-language-literature/english/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

College Factual analyzed 47 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value english schools.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/english-language-literature/general-english-language-literature/english/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/english-language-literature/general-english-language-literature/english/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/english-language-literature/general-english-language-literature/english/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/english-language-literature/general-english-language-literature/english/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/english-language-literature/general-english-language-literature/english/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/english-language-literature/general-english-language-literature/english/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/english-language-literature/general-english-language-literature/english/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 6
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 23.01), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "English (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "English (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "English (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "English (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in English Language & Literature" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in English Language & Literature" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MA in English" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "MA in English" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA English in Literature" with relevance 0.9
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA English in Literature" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
DEBUG: Checking offer "English (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "English (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 5
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 2 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 2
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 2 offers with relevance >= 1.0

2026 Best Value English Schools in North Carolina

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the english degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value English Schools

1

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill tops our 2026 list of the best value english schools in North Carolina. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. English graduates carry a median of $14,794 in student loans. English graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $40,247 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.

2

A rank of #2 makes Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary one of the best values for english. Located in the suburb of Wake Forest, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,318. English graduates of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary earn a median of $54,863 early in their careers. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.

3

University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value english schools. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. English graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $29,494. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro admits about 88% of applicants.

4

Students looking for strong value in english will find it at Fayetteville State University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,353, with out-of-state students paying around $8,353. English graduates carry a median of $27,869 in student loans. Early-career english graduates make about $41,449. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fayetteville State University admits about 82% of applicants.

5

University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value english schools. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,239, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. Typical student debt for english graduates is $23,071. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte generally make around $33,330. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.

ADBLOCK #101
6

University Of North Carolina At Asheville came in at #6 for value in english this year. Located in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,501, with out-of-state students paying around $24,849. Typical student debt for english graduates is $23,752. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Asheville generally make around $19,136. Set against $23,752 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.

7

Western Carolina University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value english schools. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,630 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,630. English graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Western Carolina University generally make around $29,891. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.

8

North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #8 position for value in english this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for english graduates is $21,680. Early-career english graduates make about $34,130. That is a strong return on a $21,680 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.

9

North Carolina Central University came in at #9 for value in english this year. Located in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,699, while out-of-state students pay about $19,735. Students borrow a median of $31,173 to complete the english program here. Early-career english graduates make about $42,873. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.

10

Appalachian State University placed #10 among the best values for english. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,579, with out-of-state students paying around $25,212. Students borrow a median of $21,430 to complete the english program here. Early-career english graduates make about $23,397. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.

ADBLOCK #115
11
Davidson College crest
Davidson College
Davidson, NC

Davidson College landed the #11 spot for english value this year. Located in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $64,430. Typical student debt for english graduates is $19,906. Early-career english graduates make about $34,707. Set against $19,906 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Davidson College admits about 13% of applicants.

12

East Carolina University placed #12 among the best values for english. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. In-state tuition and fees average $7,361, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. Students borrow a median of $25,400 to complete the english program here. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $29,133. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.

13

University Of North Carolina At Wilmington came in at #13 for value in english this year. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,277, with out-of-state students paying around $24,152. English graduates carry a median of $24,636 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $24,384. That is a strong return on a $24,636 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington admits about 64% of applicants.

14
Gardner Webb University crest
Gardner Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC

Gardner Webb University came in at #14 for value in english this year. Set in the rural area of Boiling Springs, Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,750. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete the english program here. English graduates of Gardner Webb University earn a median of $63,220 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,033 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.

15
Wake Forest University crest
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC

Wake Forest University placed #15 among the best values for english. Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. Students from in state pay about $67,642 in tuition and fees. English graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $31,449. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.

ADBLOCK #145
16
Duke University crest
Duke University
Durham, NC

Duke University earned the #16 position for value in english this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,758. Typical student debt for english graduates is $15,362. English graduates of Duke University earn a median of $34,962 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,362 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.

17
High Point University crest
High Point University
High Point, NC

High Point University earned the #17 position for value in english this year. Located in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,312. English graduates carry a median of $23,785 in student loans. Early-career english graduates make about $113,352. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.

18

Elon University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value english schools. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,958. English graduates carry a median of $21,619 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Elon University generally make around $36,302. Set against $21,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.

ADBLOCK #173
View All English Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 47 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options