Best College ROI in Nc 2026
66 colleges in Nc analyzed for return on investment. Strayer University-North Carolina leads with a ROI Score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY).
Nc has 66 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 17 public institutions and 49 private ones. Across the 66 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $24K and earn $80K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
89% of Nc colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Strayer University-North Carolina (median $95K on Information Science/Studies).
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Nc
Strayer University-North Carolina
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Nc's ROI rankings on its Information Science/Studies program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $5K in median debt.
Duke University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer Science. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer Science. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $18K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Nc
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Strayer University-North Carolina(private) | Information Science/Studies | $5K | $95K | A (100) |
| 2 | Duke University(private) | Computer Science | $17K | $95K | A (97) |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill(public) | Computer Science | $18K | $95K | A (97) |
| 4 | Appalachian State University(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 5 | Catawba College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 6 | Davidson College(private) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 7 | Elizabeth City State University(public) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 8 | Guilford College(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 9 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh(public) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 10 | Salem College(private) | Mathematics | $20K | $78K | A (96) |
| 11 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro(public) | Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 12 | Wake Forest University(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 13 | Warren Wilson College(private) | Mathematics | $20K | $78K | A (96) |
| 14 | Belmont Abbey College(private) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 15 | Brevard College(private) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 16 | Campbell University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $24K | $95K | A (95) |
| 17 | Carolina University(private) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 18 | Elon University(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 19 | Fayetteville State University(public) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 20 | High Point University(private) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
College debt and earnings data for Nc is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Strayer University-North Carolina has the best ROI in Nc with a score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Information Science/Studies, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $5K in median debt.
Across 66 Nc colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $24K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $80K.
Strayer University-North Carolina graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Information Science/Studies). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Nc has 66 colleges in our database (17 public, 49 private). Of the 66 with reportable ROI, 89% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).