Paying for college · North Carolina
What college really costs in North Carolina
Average yearly net price after grants at 49 four-year colleges, lowest first. The figure for families earning under $30,000 shows how far need-based aid goes at each school.
North Carolina state grants
- Next NC Scholarship: At least $5,000 a year at a UNC System university ($3,000 at community colleges)
- Federal Pell Grant: up to $7,395 a year (2026–27)
Working while you study
$7.25/hour minimum wage
North Carolina follows the federal minimum wage.
All four-year colleges in North Carolina
| College | Avg net price | Income under $30k | Graduate | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth City State UniversityElizabeth City · public | $8,048 | $6,031 | 46% | $20,745 |
| North Carolina A & T State UniversityGreensboro · public | $9,884 | $8,284 | 56% | $23,288 |
| Fayetteville State UniversityFayetteville · public | $10,009 | $9,076 | 37% | $20,500 |
| University of North Carolina at PembrokePembroke · public | $10,522 | $8,822 | 44% | $21,082 |
| Livingstone CollegeSalisbury · private | $10,838 | $8,506 | 20% | $31,000 |
| UNC Chapel HillChapel Hill · public | $11,305 | $2,212 | 91% | $12,086 |
| University of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboro · public | $12,291 | $9,172 | 58% | $20,500 |
| Carolina UniversityWinston-Salem · private | $12,351 | $11,983 | 27% | $20,500 |
| Winston-Salem State UniversityWinston-Salem · public | $12,817 | $10,447 | 47% | $24,000 |
| Western Carolina UniversityCullowhee · public | $13,025 | $10,446 | 61% | $19,500 |
| University of North Carolina School of the ArtsWinston Salem · public | $14,859 | $5,960 | 80% | $26,450 |
| University of North Carolina AshevilleAsheville · public | $14,999 | $11,650 | 52% | $19,500 |
| Davidson CollegeDavidson · private | $15,060 | $3,629 | 90% | $15,000 |
| University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte · public | $15,142 | $9,782 | 68% | $19,500 |
| Catawba CollegeSalisbury · private | $15,993 | $11,010 | 48% | $21,181 |
| Appalachian State UniversityBoone · public | $16,082 | $11,070 | 71% | $19,500 |
| NC State UniversityRaleigh · public | $16,486 | $6,149 | 85% | $19,500 |
| North Carolina Central UniversityDurham · public | $16,708 | $15,130 | 47% | $26,000 |
| East Carolina UniversityGreenville · public | $16,880 | $12,125 | 63% | $20,500 |
| Greensboro CollegeGreensboro · private | $18,187 | $16,279 | 42% | $25,000 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne UniversityHickory · private | $18,641 | $17,198 | 50% | $25,316 |
| University of Mount OliveMount Olive · private | $18,927 | $20,347 | 42% | $25,000 |
| Salem CollegeWinston-Salem · private | $18,975 | $19,359 | 31% | $20,459 |
| Mid-Atlantic Christian UniversityElizabeth City · private | $19,001 | $12,764 | 21% | — |
| University of North Carolina WilmingtonWilmington · public | $19,570 | $11,568 | 72% | $18,250 |
| Chowan UniversityMurfreesboro · private | $19,783 | $18,469 | 27% | $27,000 |
| North Carolina Wesleyan UniversityRocky Mount · private | $20,318 | $26,413 | 45% | $25,000 |
| Mars Hill UniversityMars Hill · private | $20,442 | $17,726 | 46% | $23,250 |
| Gardner-Webb UniversityBoiling Springs · private | $21,150 | $19,391 | 48% | $22,000 |
| Johnson C Smith UniversityCharlotte · private | $21,397 | $20,863 | 34% | $30,750 |
| Wingate UniversityWingate · private | $21,511 | $19,118 | 43% | $23,000 |
| Pfeiffer UniversityMisenheimer · private | $22,696 | $19,899 | 48% | $23,293 |
| Meredith CollegeRaleigh · private | $22,801 | $18,483 | 72% | $22,000 |
| Guilford CollegeGreensboro · private | $22,813 | $21,722 | 43% | $22,660 |
| William Peace UniversityRaleigh · private | $23,002 | $18,720 | 49% | $16,875 |
| Warren Wilson CollegeSwannanoa · private | $23,319 | $16,752 | 40% | $24,907 |
| Shaw UniversityRaleigh · private | $24,242 | $24,057 | 20% | $24,439 |
| Barton CollegeWilson · private | $24,367 | $22,670 | 47% | $24,875 |
| Campbell UniversityBuies Creek · private | $25,057 | $21,932 | 58% | $20,500 |
| Montreat CollegeMontreat · private | $25,095 | $21,122 | 43% | $24,150 |
| Belmont Abbey CollegeBelmont · private | $25,416 | $20,680 | 50% | $23,750 |
| Brevard CollegeBrevard · private | $25,617 | $23,909 | 40% | $25,000 |
| Methodist UniversityFayetteville · private | $25,760 | $23,129 | 39% | $27,000 |
| Bennett CollegeGreensboro · private | $27,547 | $26,177 | 32% | $27,000 |
| Wake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem · private | $28,165 | $6,242 | 90% | $19,500 |
| Lees-McRae CollegeBanner Elk · private | $28,253 | $23,424 | 47% | $16,500 |
| Queens University of CharlotteCharlotte · private | $29,421 | $21,250 | 57% | $25,000 |
| Elon UniversityElon · private | $35,785 | $20,986 | 81% | $19,500 |
| High Point UniversityHigh Point · private | $41,019 | $36,494 | 72% | $23,250 |
Linked colleges have a full funding guide. More are added every week.
Short of what aid covers?
Students in North Carolina use My Study Fund to collect monthly support from family, friends and mentors, and receive every dollar.
Sources
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; state program pages linked above, checked 2026-10-28. Four-year, campus-based public and private nonprofit colleges with complete net-price data.