Cost of college in North Carolina
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in North Carolina averages $7,382 a year, or $14,533 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $55,614 and owe about $21,215. The net price pays back in about 4.2 years.
How North Carolina compares to the US
North Carolina ranks #46 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #25 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #22 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | North Carolina | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $7,382 | $9,518 | -$2,136 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $24,678 | $23,652 | +$1,026 |
| Net price after aid | $14,533 | $13,788 | +$745 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $55,614 | $56,427 | -$813 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,215 | $17,856 | +$3,359 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in North Carolina pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in North Carolina costs about $58,132 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 4.2 years from the roughly $13,814-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #22 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in North Carolina list about $43,677 in tuition and net out to about $26,470 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in North Carolina?
At a public 4-year college in North Carolina, in-state tuition and fees average about $7,382 a year and out-of-state runs about $24,678. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $14,533. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in North Carolina earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from North Carolina's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $55,614 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $21,215 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in North Carolina?
A public 4-year degree in North Carolina costs about $58,132 over four years at net price and recoups in about 4.2 years from the roughly $13,814-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.