How does FindMySchool.ai work?

FindMySchool.ai analyzes over 6,400 U.S. colleges using verified federal data from the College Scorecard and IPEDS. Students answer a short questionnaire about their academics, personal interests, goals, location preferences, and budget. Our AI then generates a personalized report with ranked school recommendations, financial fit estimates, admissions factor analysis, and career outcome data.

How much does FindMySchool.ai cost?

FindMySchool.ai provides the same quality of college guidance that private counselors charge $5,000–$15,000 for — starting at just $29 per report.

What data sources does FindMySchool.ai use?

FindMySchool.ai uses U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data, IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System), Common Data Set submissions from individual colleges, and Clery Act campus safety statistics. All data is from official federal and institutional sources.

How is FindMySchool.ai different from College Confidential or Niche?

Unlike ranking sites or review platforms, FindMySchool.ai builds a personalized match for each student using their interests, goals, and priorities — not generic rankings. Recommendations include financial fit estimates by family income, admissions factor importance (from each school's Common Data Set), career outcome data by intended major, and AI-generated counselor-quality profiles explaining why each school fits that specific student.

What is the Common Data Set?

The Common Data Set (CDS) is a standardized survey that U.S. colleges complete annually, reporting admissions factors, test score ranges, cost information, graduation rates, and more. FindMySchool.ai uses CDS Section C7 data to identify which admissions factors each college rates as 'Very Important' — including whether demonstrated interest affects admissions decisions.

Best Colleges in North Carolina (2026)

175 colleges ranked by graduate earnings, acceptance rates, and outcomes — powered by federal data from the U.S. Department of Education.

175

Colleges

$39,366

Avg Earnings (10yr)

$15,008

Avg Net Price

68%

Avg Admit Rate

49%

Avg Grad Rate

State Overview

North Carolina is home to 175 colleges and universities, ranging from research universities to community colleges. Duke University leads the state in graduate earnings, with state alumni earning $39,366 on average ten years after enrollment. Whether you're looking for a flagship research university, a liberal arts college, or a career-focused program, North Carolina offers diverse options across all price points.

Quick Facts — North Carolina Colleges

Highest Earning

Duke University

$97,800median earnings

Most Selective

Duke University

6%acceptance rate

Best Grad Rate

Duke University

96%6-yr grad rate

Most Affordable

Wilkes Community College

-$264avg net price

Top 10 Colleges in North Carolina by Graduate Earnings

Ranked by median earnings 10 years after enrollment. Public and private nonprofit only.

Duke University

Durham·Private Nonprofit

Admit

Net Price

$29,612

Grad Rate

96%

Earnings

$97,800

Davidson College

Davidson·Private Nonprofit

Admit

13%

Net Price

$17,379

Grad Rate

91%

Earnings

$81,400

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem·Private Nonprofit

Admit

22%

Net Price

$28,719

Grad Rate

90%

Earnings

$78,158

Elon University

Elon·Private Nonprofit

Admit

66%

Net Price

$41,555

Grad Rate

84%

Earnings

$74,545

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill·Public

Admit

15%

Net Price

$11,655

Grad Rate

92%

Earnings

$72,200

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh·Public

Admit

42%

Net Price

$17,303

Grad Rate

85%

Earnings

$68,758

Carolinas College of Health Sciences

Charlotte·Public

Admit

60%

Net Price

N/A

Grad Rate

N/A

Earnings

$64,624

High Point University

High Point·Private Nonprofit

Admit

75%

Net Price

$38,707

Grad Rate

72%

Earnings

$61,389

Cabarrus College of Health Sciences

Concord·Private Nonprofit

Admit

23%

Net Price

$17,618

Grad Rate

62%

Earnings

$58,708

Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte·Private Nonprofit

Admit

62%

Net Price

$30,857

Grad Rate

64%

Earnings

$57,673

Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina

Lowest average net price after grants and scholarships. Public and private nonprofit only.

#1 Most AffordablePublic

Wilkes Community College

Wilkesboro, NC

-$264/ yr avg net

54% grad rate

#2 Most AffordablePublic

Cleveland Community College

Shelby, NC

$995/ yr avg net

20% grad rate

#3 Most AffordablePublic

Piedmont Community College

Roxboro, NC

$1,095/ yr avg net

39% grad rate

#4 Most AffordablePublic

Pamlico Community College

Grantsboro, NC

$1,321/ yr avg net

50% grad rate

#5 Most AffordablePublic

Durham Technical Community College

Durham, NC

$1,664/ yr avg net

40% grad rate

Popular Majors

Compare the best colleges for top fields of study — ranked by graduate earnings nationwide.

Business Administration Accounting Marketing Finance Business International Business Computer Science Computer & Information Science Mechanical Engineering Electrical Engineering Biomedical Engineering Civil Engineering View all majors

Personalized Match

Find your best-fit North Carolina college

Get a personalized report based on your interests, goals, and what matters most to you — in minutes.

Find my North Carolina college

All Colleges in North Carolina

All 175 accredited institutions. Click column headers to sort.

School	City	Type	Admit Rate	Net Price	Grad Rate	Earnings (10yr)
Alamance Community College	Graham	Public	N/A	$6,109	38%	$34,241
Alexander Paul Institute of Hair Design	Greenville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$11,495	75%	N/A
Appalachian State University	Boone	Public	90%	$16,836	74%	$51,836
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College	Asheville	Public	N/A	$11,602	36%	$36,048
Aveda Institute-Chapel Hill	Chapel Hill	Private For-Profit	N/A	$20,736	78%	$26,873
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte	Charlotte	Private For-Profit	N/A	$25,733	56%	$42,759
Barton College	Wilson	Private Nonprofit	94%	$23,626	48%	$47,913
Beaufort County Community College	Washington	Public	N/A	$6,500	43%	$32,519
Belmont Abbey College	Belmont	Private Nonprofit	75%	$24,639	47%	$47,937
Bennett College	Greensboro	Private Nonprofit	51%	$28,299	23%	$36,654
Beyond Measure Barbering Institute	Mebane	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	65%	N/A
Bladen Community College	Dublin	Public	N/A	$9,551	28%	$30,591
Blue Ridge Community College	Flat Rock	Public	N/A	$5,756	44%	$36,324
Brevard College	Brevard	Private Nonprofit	42%	$23,509	44%	$43,545
Brunswick Community College	Bolivia	Public	N/A	$9,009	43%	$36,668
Bull City Durham Beauty and Barber College	Durham	Private For-Profit	N/A	$11,819	N/A	N/A
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences	Concord	Private Nonprofit	23%	$17,618	62%	$58,708
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute	Hudson	Public	N/A	$10,810	42%	$34,515
Campbell University	Buies Creek	Private Nonprofit	87%	$24,516	58%	$54,886
Cape Fear Community College	Wilmington	Public	N/A	$9,610	34%	$38,654
Carolina Christian College	Winston Salem	Private Nonprofit	N/A	$22,366	N/A	$40,672
Carolina College of Biblical Studies	Fayetteville	Private Nonprofit	N/A	$21,322	N/A	$24,581
Carolina College of Hair Design Inc	Asheville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$13,396	75%	N/A
Carolina University	Winston-Salem	Private Nonprofit	40%	$20,828	24%	$32,864
Carolinas College of Health Sciences	Charlotte	Public	60%	N/A	N/A	$64,624
Carteret Community College	Morehead City	Public	N/A	$10,764	45%	$33,357
Catawba College	Salisbury	Private Nonprofit	75%	$17,879	50%	$48,793
Catawba Valley Community College	Hickory	Public	N/A	$10,528	35%	$36,977
Center for Massage	Asheville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$18,631	91%	$19,244
Central Carolina Community College	Sanford	Public	N/A	$5,446	42%	$33,525
Central Piedmont Community College	Charlotte	Public	N/A	$3,345	29%	$37,865
Chamberlain University-North Carolina	Charlotte	Private For-Profit	100%	$38,436	N/A	$92,405
Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary	Charlotte	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	$33,696
Chowan University	Murfreesboro	Private Nonprofit	69%	$14,086	29%	$38,412
Cleveland Community College	Shelby	Public	N/A	$995	20%	$33,755
Coastal Carolina Community College	Jacksonville	Public	N/A	$9,461	46%	$36,444
College of the Albemarle	Elizabeth City	Public	N/A	$2,253	37%	$33,234
College of Wilmington	Wilmington	Private For-Profit	N/A	$23,108	28%	$19,235
Craven Community College	New Bern	Public	N/A	$3,289	47%	$34,231
Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts	Asheville	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Davidson College	Davidson	Private Nonprofit	13%	$17,379	91%	$81,400
Davidson-Davie Community College	Thomasville	Public	N/A	$8,753	44%	$36,337
Duke University	Durham	Private Nonprofit	6%	$29,612	96%	$97,800
Durham Technical Community College	Durham	Public	N/A	$1,664	40%	$36,142
East Carolina University	Greenville	Public	89%	$15,739	62%	$55,146
ECPI University-Charlotte	Charlotte	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	N/A	$42,837
ECPI University-Greensboro	Greensboro	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	N/A	$42,837
ECPI University-Raleigh	Raleigh	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	N/A	$42,837
Edgecombe Community College	Tarboro	Public	N/A	N/A	45%	$33,267
Elevate Salon Institute	Durham	Private For-Profit	N/A	$23,554	63%	$28,934
Elizabeth City State University	Elizabeth City	Public	64%	$6,364	46%	$40,026
Elon University	Elon	Private Nonprofit	66%	$41,555	84%	$74,545
Empire Beauty School-Charlotte	Charlotte	Private For-Profit	N/A	$16,089	33%	$24,022
Empire Beauty School-Concord	Concord	Private For-Profit	N/A	$14,750	55%	$23,925
Empire Beauty School-Pineville	Charlotte	Private For-Profit	N/A	$15,672	51%	$23,925
Empire Beauty School-West Greensboro	Greensboro	Private For-Profit	N/A	$16,932	43%	$24,407
Empire Beauty School-Winston-Salem	Winston-Salem	Private For-Profit	N/A	$16,503	35%	$24,397
Fayetteville State University	Fayetteville	Public	82%	$7,892	37%	$40,144
Fayetteville Technical Community College	Fayetteville	Public	N/A	$3,589	22%	$31,861
Forsyth Technical Community College	Winston-Salem	Public	N/A	$7,200	31%	$34,139
Galen Health Institutes-Asheville	Asheville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$28,602	N/A	$61,480
Gardner-Webb University	Boiling Springs	Private Nonprofit	77%	$17,674	59%	$48,039
Gaston College	Dallas	Public	N/A	N/A	N/A	$35,386
Gaston College	Dallas	Public	N/A	$6,592	59%	$35,386
Greensboro College	Greensboro	Private Nonprofit	70%	$17,882	43%	$46,566
Guilford College	Greensboro	Private Nonprofit	80%	$22,270	47%	$47,590
Guilford Technical Community College	Jamestown	Public	N/A	$15,002	31%	$33,934
Gwinnett College	Raleigh	Private For-Profit	N/A	$30,219	63%	$29,234
Halifax Community College	Weldon	Public	N/A	$9,040	38%	$31,644
Haywood Community College	Clyde	Public	N/A	$6,723	40%	$34,770
Health And Style Institute	Greensboro	Private For-Profit	N/A	$37,514	32%	$23,421
Heritage Bible College	Dunn	Private Nonprofit	N/A	$18,684	N/A	$30,672
High Point University	High Point	Private Nonprofit	75%	$38,707	72%	$61,389
Hood Theological Seminary	Salisbury	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Isothermal Community College	Spindale	Public	N/A	$10,758	52%	$33,325
James Sprunt Community College	Kenansville	Public	N/A	$1,863	44%	$29,307
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte	Charlotte	Private Nonprofit	80%	$27,426	51%	$43,418
Johnson C Smith University	Charlotte	Private Nonprofit	45%	$20,894	34%	$42,680
Johnston Community College	Smithfield	Public	N/A	$1,776	32%	$37,310
Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine	Sugar Grove	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Lees-McRae College	Banner Elk	Private Nonprofit	77%	$28,340	43%	$43,415
Lenoir Community College	Kinston	Public	N/A	$4,127	33%	$33,866
Lenoir-Rhyne University	Hickory	Private Nonprofit	85%	$20,689	49%	$45,543
Leons Beauty School Inc	Greensboro	Private For-Profit	N/A	$4,799	79%	$26,958
Livingstone College	Salisbury	Private Nonprofit	59%	$13,479	26%	$32,600
Louisburg College	Louisburg	Private Nonprofit	56%	$22,694	29%	$34,818
Manna University	Fayetteville	Private Nonprofit	53%	$15,210	74%	N/A
Mars Hill University	Mars Hill	Private Nonprofit	68%	$19,910	43%	$44,781
Martin Community College	Williamston	Public	N/A	$2,676	38%	$26,016
Mayland Community College	Spruce Pine	Public	N/A	$5,861	48%	$34,663
McDowell Technical Community College	Marion	Public	N/A	$7,784	53%	$33,035
Meredith College	Raleigh	Private Nonprofit	74%	$22,488	68%	$51,539
Methodist University	Fayetteville	Private Nonprofit	75%	$24,704	42%	$48,050
Mid-Atlantic Christian University	Elizabeth City	Private Nonprofit	62%	$18,328	32%	$38,342
Miller-Motte College-Fayetteville	Fayetteville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$26,409	68%	$31,102
Miller-Motte College-Jacksonville	Jacksonville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$23,535	66%	$31,102
Miller-Motte College-Raleigh	Raleigh	Private For-Profit	N/A	$22,736	66%	$31,102
Miller-Motte College-Wilmington	Wilmington	Private For-Profit	N/A	$22,321	6%	$31,102
Mitchell Community College	Statesville	Public	N/A	$6,481	23%	$33,298
Mitchells Academy	Raleigh	Private For-Profit	N/A	$14,647	84%	$26,606
Montgomery Community College	Troy	Public	N/A	$13,832	65%	$32,742
Montreat College	Montreat	Private Nonprofit	69%	$27,061	45%	$45,151
MyComputerCareer at Raleigh	Raleigh	Private For-Profit	N/A	$26,528	65%	N/A
NASCAR Technical Institute	Mooresville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$28,915	61%	$52,873
Nash Community College	Rocky Mount	Public	N/A	$3,338	46%	$34,912
No Grease Barber School	Charlotte	Private For-Profit	N/A	$20,795	86%	N/A
North Carolina A & T State University	Greensboro	Public	50%	$10,846	56%	$44,440
North Carolina Central University	Durham	Public	87%	$15,359	44%	$42,968
North Carolina State University at Raleigh	Raleigh	Public	42%	$17,303	85%	$68,758
North Carolina Wesleyan University	Rocky Mount	Private Nonprofit	80%	$17,432	41%	$45,873
One Stop Academy	Fayetteville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$35,519	N/A	N/A
Pamlico Community College	Grantsboro	Public	N/A	$1,321	50%	$30,005
Paul Mitchell the School-Charlotte	Charlotte	Private For-Profit	N/A	$23,033	54%	$23,966
Paul Mitchell the School-Fayetteville	Fayetteville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$18,496	66%	$26,696
Paul Mitchell the School-Raleigh	Raleigh	Private For-Profit	N/A	$18,166	41%	N/A
Pfeiffer University	Misenheimer	Private Nonprofit	96%	$19,076	39%	$51,562
Piedmont Community College	Roxboro	Public	N/A	$1,095	39%	$33,274
Pinnacle Institute of Cosmetology	Mooresville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$17,000	46%	$22,786
Pitt Community College	Winterville	Public	N/A	$7,337	31%	$37,259
Queens University of Charlotte	Charlotte	Private Nonprofit	62%	$30,857	64%	$57,673
Randolph Community College	Asheboro	Public	N/A	$6,918	56%	$33,336
Richmond Community College	Hamlet	Public	N/A	$5,071	43%	$29,951
Roanoke-Chowan Community College	Ahoskie	Public	N/A	$5,570	30%	$29,324
Robeson Community College	Lumberton	Public	N/A	$2,892	31%	$29,036
Rockingham Community College	Wentworth	Public	N/A	$2,060	32%	$32,480
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College	Salisbury	Public	N/A	$7,981	33%	$34,936
Saint Augustine's University	Raleigh	Private Nonprofit	34%	$24,313	30%	$35,730
Salem College	Winston-Salem	Private Nonprofit	77%	$18,277	57%	$44,640
Sampson Community College	Clinton	Public	N/A	$3,108	55%	$33,409
Sandhills Community College	Pinehurst	Public	N/A	$4,157	50%	$31,656
Shaw University	Raleigh	Private Nonprofit	80%	$16,512	21%	$34,409
Shepherds Theological Seminary	Cary	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
South College-Asheville	Asheville	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	N/A	$36,642
South Piedmont Community College	Polkton	Public	N/A	$6,675	37%	$37,308
South University-High Point	High Point	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	11%	$34,421
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary	Wake Forest	Private Nonprofit	75%	$13,090	54%	N/A
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary-Nash County Extension Center	Nashville	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary-Wake County Extension Center	Raleigh	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Southeastern College-Charlotte	Charlotte	Private For-Profit	94%	$30,611	69%	$31,548
Southeastern Community College	Whiteville	Public	N/A	$9,148	47%	$30,284
Southeastern Free Will Baptist Bible College	Wendell	Private Nonprofit	N/A	$12,602	50%	N/A
Southwestern Community College	Sylva	Public	N/A	$5,207	53%	$34,145
St. Andrews University	Laurinburg	Private Nonprofit	N/A	$32,513	28%	$45,606
Stanly Community College	Albemarle	Public	N/A	$5,721	54%	$36,686
Strayer University-North Carolina	Greensboro	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	N/A	$40,092
Strayer University-North Charlotte	Concord	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	N/A	$40,092
Strayer University-North Raleigh Campus	Raleigh	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	N/A	$40,092
Strayer University-South Charlotte	Charlotte	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	N/A	$40,092
Strayer University-South Raleigh Campus	Raleigh	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	N/A	$40,092
Surry Community College	Dobson	Public	N/A	$4,961	7%	$36,012
Tri-County Community College	Murphy	Public	N/A	$7,799	54%	$32,232
Union Presbyterian Seminary-Charlotte	Charlotte	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
University of Mount Olive	Mount Olive	Private Nonprofit	76%	$18,853	50%	$47,139
University of North Carolina Asheville	Asheville	Public	92%	$12,250	55%	$44,030
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	Chapel Hill	Public	15%	$11,655	92%	$72,200
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	Charlotte	Public	80%	$15,435	68%	$57,289
University of North Carolina at Greensboro	Greensboro	Public	89%	$10,965	57%	$48,160
University of North Carolina at Pembroke	Pembroke	Public	93%	$10,260	44%	$43,407
University of North Carolina School of the Arts	Winston Salem	Public	30%	$14,906	78%	$38,357
University of North Carolina Wilmington	Wilmington	Public	64%	$20,109	71%	$54,967
Vance-Granville Community College	Henderson	Public	N/A	$3,286	50%	$34,304
Wake Forest University	Winston-Salem	Private Nonprofit	22%	$28,719	90%	$78,158
Wake Technical Community College	Raleigh	Public	N/A	$8,759	32%	$41,769
Warren Wilson College	Swannanoa	Private Nonprofit	71%	$21,249	42%	$36,260
Watts College of Nursing	Durham	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Wayne Community College	Goldsboro	Public	N/A	$2,245	53%	$34,148
Western Carolina University	Cullowhee	Public	82%	$13,315	60%	$49,458
Western Piedmont Community College	Morganton	Public	N/A	$6,448	43%	$34,195
Wilkes Community College	Wilkesboro	Public	N/A	-$264	54%	$34,728
William Peace University	Raleigh	Private Nonprofit	94%	$21,649	45%	$46,643
Wilson Community College	Wilson	Public	N/A	$3,064	33%	$32,973
Wingate University	Wingate	Private Nonprofit	91%	$20,748	47%	$52,649
Winston - Salem Barber School - Satellite	Greensboro	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	N/A	$16,389
Winston Salem Barber School	Winston-Salem	Private For-Profit	N/A	$14,610	65%	$16,389
Winston-Salem State University	Winston-Salem	Public	78%	$13,479	48%	$45,344

Showing 175 of 175 schools