Choosing a university to attend is a task that requires careful consideration by both parents and students. Academic program, cost, location, opportunities etc. are some of the factors that come to mind even before filling up the application form.
Finding a college that's worth the price can be especially difficult when universities don't disclose tuition fees up front and keep families in the dark. According to Money, the tuition fees advertised by universities can be lowered through the availability of scholarships and grants, which is especially common at private universities.
Money magazine analyzed 745 universities across the country for its roundup of the best colleges for 2024. The 26 North Carolina universities were selected based on factors such as graduate salaries, cost of attendance, financial aid, and graduation rates. While the roundup isn't intended to “narrow down” the best colleges, it may help students determine which schools are most likely to land them a high-paying job with manageable student loans.
Here are the universities mentioned in the NC and why:
Money Magazine's Best Colleges in North Carolina for 2024
5 stars
- Davidson CollegeDavidson: Acceptance rate: 17%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $78,900. Estimated price including average grants: $28,200. Graduation rate: 93%
- Duke UniversityDurham: Acceptance rate: 6%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $86,000. Estimated price including average grants: $25,000. Graduation rate: 95%
4.5-star
- North Carolina State UniversityRaleigh: Acceptance rate: 47%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $26,800. Estimated price with average grant funding: $15,700. Graduation rate: 82%
- UNC College of ArtsWinston-Salem: Acceptance rate: 32%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $27,300. Estimated price with average grant funding: $11,900. Graduation rate: 73%
- UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel HillAcceptance rate: 17%. Estimated total cost for 2024-25: $26,200. Estimated price with average grant: $11,200. Graduation rate: 90%
- Wake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem: Acceptance rate: 21%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $91,000. Estimated price with average grant funding: $27,700. Graduation rate: 89%
3.5-star
- Appalachian State UniversityBoone: Acceptance rate: 83%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $23,600. Estimated price with average grant: $13,800. Graduation rate: 73%
- Elizabeth City State UniversityElizabeth City: Acceptance rate: 74%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $22,600. Estimated price including average grants: $7,500. Graduation rate: 43%
- Elon UniversityElon: Acceptance rate: 74%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $62,000. Estimated price with average grant: $43,900. Graduation rate: 83%
- UNC CharlotteCharlotte: Acceptance rate: 80%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $24,600. Estimated price with average grant funding: $14,700. Graduation rate: 65%
- UNC GreensboroGreensboro: Acceptance rate: 92%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $21,400. Estimated price with average grant: $11,600. Graduation rate: 59%
- Western Carolina UniversityCarlow: Acceptance rate: 85%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $21,100. Estimated price with average grant: $13,800. Graduation rate: 65%
3-star
- East Carolina UniversityGreenville: Acceptance rate: 92%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $24,800. Estimated price with average grant: $15,200. Graduation rate: 67%
- Fayetteville State UniversityFayetteville: Acceptance rate: 81%. Estimated total cost of living in 2024-25: $17,900. Estimated price with average grant: $7,400. Graduation rate: 49%
- Lees Macrae CollegeBanner Elk: Acceptance rate: 61%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $48,000. Estimated price with average grant funding: $25,500. Graduation rate: 62%
- Meredith CollegeRaleigh: Acceptance rate: 73%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $60,100. Estimated price with average grant funding: $24,600. Graduation rate: 66%
- North Carolina Institute of TechnologyGreensboro: Acceptance rate: 56%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $20,100. Estimated price with average grants: $9,700. Graduation rate: 53%
- North Carolina Central UniversityDurham: Acceptance rate: 84%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $27,000. Estimated price including average grants: $14,500. Graduation rate: 55%
- NC Wesleyan UniversityRocky Mount: Acceptance rate: 68%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $51,100. Estimated price with average grant funding: $19,800. Graduation rate: 57%
- University of Mount OliveMount Olive: Acceptance rate: 75%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $38,400. Estimated price with average grant funding: $18,900. Graduation rate: 44%
- UNC AshevilleAsheville: Acceptance rate: 74%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $22,500. Estimated price with average grant: $15,600. Graduation rate: 63%
- UNC WilmingtonWilmington: Acceptance rate: 69%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $27,500. Estimated price with average grant: $19,800. Graduation rate: 73%
- Winston-Salem State UniversityWinston-Salem: Acceptance rate: 73%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $23,300. Estimated price with average grant funding: $14,900. Graduation rate: 53%
2.5-star
- Barton CollegeWilson: Acceptance rate: 95%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $50,800. Estimated price with average grant funding: $24,800. Graduation rate: 55%
- Johnson C. Smith UniversityCharlotte: Acceptance rate: 25%. Estimated total cost in 2024-25: $35,600. Estimated price with average grants: $21,200. Graduation rate: 42%
2-star
- High Point UniversityHighlights: Acceptance rate: 79%. Estimated total cost for 2024-25: $64,700. Estimated price with average grant: $42,500. Graduation rate: 68%
Is college worth going to?
Is the American Dream out of reach? According to a Wall Street Journal/NORC poll, recent surveys show that only half of Americans think a college degree is worth paying for. A Pew Research poll backs this up, with only 29% of Americans saying college is worth the money, even if it means taking out student loans. Forty-seven percent think college is worth the money, but only if you don't need loans to attend.
The change in attitudes toward college is due to the increasing opportunities for a good life without a bachelor's degree and the rising cost of living. According to Money magazine, the median wealth of a household headed by a high school graduate has increased from $12,700 in 2013 to $30,700 in 2022. Yet, by comparison, the increase in net worth for households with a college degree has ranged from $46,600 to $120,200.
As the College Entrance Examination Board points out, changes in college prices since 2001 have also reduced the consideration of attending college. After adjusting for inflation, tuition and fees at public four-year colleges and universities have risen by 81%. In contrast, private colleges and universities have risen by 46%.
Todd Runkle of Carolinas Connect assisted.
Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Contact her at ntran@gannett.com..