2026 Best Value International/Global Studies Schools in North Carolina
[International/Global Studies](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/international-studies/international-global-studies/) 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 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for international/global studies students.
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2026 Best Value International/Global Studies Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in international/global studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value International/Global Studies Schools
For return on investment in international/global studies, no school beat University Of North Carolina At Charlotte this year. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. In-state tuition and fees average $7,239, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. Typical student debt for international/global studies graduates is $24,250. Early-career international/global studies graduates make about $32,206. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte admits about 80% of applicants.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value international/global studies schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for international/global studies graduates is $22,500. International/global Studies graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $45,648 early in their careers. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earned it the #3 place for international/global studies. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,277, with out-of-state students paying around $24,152. Typical student debt for international/global studies graduates is $18,750. Soon after graduation, international/global studies degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $21,830. Set against $18,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington admits about 64% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Elon University one of the best values for international/global studies. 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. Students borrow a median of $21,619 to complete the international/global studies program here. Early-career international/global studies graduates make about $50,463. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
More International/Global Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
