2026 Best Value Value Schools in North Carolina
[Value](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/forensic-science-and-technology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Value Schools in North Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Value Schools
Central Carolina Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value value schools in North Carolina. Located in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,711, with out-of-state students paying around $8,855. Value graduates carry a median of $10,266 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $38,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fayetteville Technical Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,628 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,772 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $16,909 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $40,584. That is a strong return on a $16,909 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Forsyth Technical Community College, which ranked #3. Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Winston-Salem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,276, compared with $6,884 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,374 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Forsyth Technical Community College generally make around $38,094. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wake Technical Community College earned it the #4 place for value. Located in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,254 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,862 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,900 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $38,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Fayetteville State University one of the best values for value. Fayetteville State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,353, compared with $8,353 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $27,869. Value graduates of Fayetteville State University earn a median of $41,449 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,277, with out-of-state students paying around $24,152. Students borrow a median of $23,013 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $46,164. That is a strong return on a $23,013 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
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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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
