2026 Best Value Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools in North Carolina
[Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/substance-abuse-addiction-counseling/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for substance abuse/addiction counseling students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in substance abuse/addiction counseling, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools
Central Piedmont Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools in North Carolina. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,792, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $40,629. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Nash Community College earned it the #2 place for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Located in the rural area of Rocky Mount, Nash Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,866 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,866 for out-of-state students. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $16,969 in student loans. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $45,512. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in substance abuse/addiction counseling will find it at Southwestern Community College Sylva, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Sylva, Southwestern Community College Sylva is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,112, while out-of-state students pay about $13,184. Students borrow a median of $13,708 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Southwestern Community College Sylva generally make around $36,418. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Piedmont Community College earned it the #4 place for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Located in the city of Morganton, Western Piedmont Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,650 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,794 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,999 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Western Piedmont Community College earn a median of $46,883 early in their careers. Set against $11,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Gaston College earned it the #5 place for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Gaston College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,186, while out-of-state students pay about $9,330. Students borrow a median of $10,915 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $39,937. That is a strong return on a $10,915 median debt.
Cape Fear Community College came in at #6 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Located in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,748, while out-of-state students pay about $8,892. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $12,388 in student loans. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $42,889. Set against $12,388 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Richmond Community College placed #7 among the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Located in the town of Hamlet, Richmond Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,956, with out-of-state students paying around $6,564. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $8,407. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Richmond Community College earn a median of $46,757 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Isothermal Community College placed #8 among the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Set in the town of Spindale, Isothermal Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,030, while out-of-state students pay about $6,638. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $6,625. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Isothermal Community College earn a median of $47,389 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wake Technical Community College came in at #9 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Set in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,254, with out-of-state students paying around $6,862. Students borrow a median of $34,621 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Wake Technical Community College earn a median of $38,673 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Randolph Community College came in at #10 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Located in the town of Asheboro, Randolph Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,416, compared with $8,176 for out-of-state students. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Randolph Community College generally make around $32,198.
Pamlico Community College earned the #11 position for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Set in the rural area of Grantsboro, Pamlico Community College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,712, compared with $12,928 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $30,005 ten years after entry.
Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock landed the #12 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling value this year. Set in the suburb of Flat Rock, Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,804. Students borrow a median of $16,252 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock earn a median of $42,443 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,252 median debt.
East Carolina University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. Students from in state pay about $7,361 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. Students borrow a median of $24,747 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $47,542. Set against $24,747 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Wake Forest University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. In-state tuition and fees average $67,642. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $21,577. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $67,369. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 22%.
More Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Rankings
View All Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Rankings >
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 · 23 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.
