Best North Carolina Schools
By Iris StoneWhat's not to love about North Carolina? From the temperate weather to the fun beach towns, it's almost surprising this state isn't overrun with residents! North Carolina is also a top performer in collegiate circles, due in no small part to the state's distinguished public school system – particularly its crown jewel, the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. And yet UNC has plenty of competition, from Duke University (an academic and athletic powerhouse) to Davidson (a premier liberal arts college) to affordable schools of all shapes, sizes, and affiliations. For our corresponding ranking of online programs, see Best Online Colleges in North Carolina.
With such a wide variety of options, you're practically guaranteed to find something in North Carolina that fits the bill. And if you're indecisive, this top 30 ranking will help you get started. By using a detailed methodology, we've identified the NC schools that strike the best balance in terms of their ability to meld low price with high performance. You'll be able to check off all the items on your college wish list – and breathe a sigh of relief when you write the tuition check!
Our Ranking Methodology:
Graduation Rate: This indicator refers to the percentage of students who complete their degree within 150% of normal time (six years for a typical four-year degree program). Schools that perform well in this area have a track record of keeping students engaged and successful for their entire time on campus. We weighted this category 30% of the total and retrieved the information from College Navigator.
Net Price: In order to make sure that cost was still a factor in the ranking, we also considered overall net price as an indicator. Taken from data on College Navigator, "net price" is an approximate value that refers to the average amount of money a student could expect to pay each year after taking into account tuition, room and board, living expenses, scholarship awards, and financial aid packages. We weighted this category 25% of the total.
Acceptance Rate: Academically challenging, popular universities tend to be more selective and thus have a lower acceptance rate. In order to pinpoint those colleges that boast rigorous academics and also receive a large number of applications, we considered acceptance rate – the percentage of students out of the total number of applicants who receive an acceptance letter. We retrieved this information from College Navigator and weighted it 30% of the total.
20-Year Net Return on Investment: Taken from information on the website PayScale, this statistic provides a picture of how much students can expect to make after they graduate from a particular college. More specifically, the figure is calculated by taking the average income an alumnus will make over his or her first 20 years after graduation and subtracting the amount paid in tuition. Schools with a high ROI tend to be better at preparing their students for the job market. We weighted this category only 15% because data was not available for all colleges considered.
After adding all the points, we gave each university a final score out of 200. The schools below have scores ranging from 80 to 176, and each has something different to offer in terms of its cost, quality, and reputation. No one college is perfect (which is why the scores vary so much) but this ranking offers you a premier selection of universities to help get you started on your search for an education in North Carolina.
Featured Online Programs
Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees. Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today.
Sources:
College NavigatorPay Scale
About the Author:
Iris Stone began her writing career as a freelance writer and researcher. She now owns and operates a writing and editing firm that works with clients all across the country. Her work has included articles related to education policy, colleges and universities, academic programs, and careers.
