Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in North Carolina
Colleges whose average price after grants is furthest below their published sticker price.
Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in North Carolina17 schools
17 schools qualify, ranked by discount off the sticker price.
How this list is made
- Schools in North Carolina.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has a sticker price (cost of attendance) and a net price (average yearly cost after grants) from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by the discount, sticker price minus net price, largest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Davidson College
Davidson, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- $62,096 off the sticker price
- Net price $17,379 a year
- 2
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $58,780 off the sticker price
- Net price $28,719 a year
- 3
Duke University
Durham, NC · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in North Carolina
- $57,460 off the sticker price
- Net price $29,612 a year
- 4
Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC · Private nonprofit#22 in North Carolina
- $37,671 off the sticker price
- Net price $24,516 a year
- 5
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Private nonprofit#16 in North Carolina
- $34,885 off the sticker price
- Net price $30,857 a year
- 6
Meredith College
Raleigh, NC · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- $34,825 off the sticker price
- Net price $22,488 a year
- 7
High Point University
High Point, NC · Private nonprofitTop 16% for graduation
- $26,841 off the sticker price
- Net price $38,707 a year
- 8
Elon University
Elon, NC · Private nonprofitTop 8% for graduation
- $20,711 off the sticker price
- Net price $41,555 a year
- 9
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- $14,400 off the sticker price
- Net price $11,655 a year
- 10
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Winston Salem, NC · PublicExceptional: Compass grade A
- $11,564 off the sticker price
- Net price $14,906 a year
- 11
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $9,122 off the sticker price
- Net price $17,303 a year
- 12
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
Concord, NC · Private nonprofitExceptional: Compass grade A
- $8,757 off the sticker price
- Net price $17,618 a year
- 13
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC · Public#17 in North Carolina
- $8,128 off the sticker price
- Net price $15,739 a year
- 14
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · PublicTop 22% for graduation
- $7,575 off the sticker price
- Net price $15,435 a year
- 15
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- $6,438 off the sticker price
- Net price $20,109 a year
- 16
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC · PublicTop 15% for graduation
- $6,333 off the sticker price
- Net price $16,836 a year
- 17
Manna University
Fayetteville, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $2,573 off the sticker price
- Net price $15,210 a year
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davidson College | About $17,000 | $18,688 | $81,400 | 91% |
| Wake Forest University | About $29,000 | $21,500 | $78,158 | 89% |
| Duke University | About $30,000 | $13,000 | $97,800 | 97% |
| Campbell University | About $25,000 | $22,500 | $54,886 | 61% |
| Queens University of Charlotte | About $31,000 | $25,000 | $57,673 | 61% |
| Meredith College | About $22,000 | $25,000 | $51,539 | 70% |
| High Point University | About $39,000 | $24,575 | $61,389 | 74% |
| Elon University | About $42,000 | $20,500 | $74,545 | 84% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | About $12,000 | $14,000 | $72,200 | 91% |
| University of North Carolina School of the Arts | About $15,000 | $23,870 | $38,357 | 78% |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | About $17,000 | $20,121 | $68,758 | 85% |
| Cabarrus College of Health Sciences | About $18,000 | $16,000 | $58,708 | 71% |
| East Carolina University | About $16,000 | $22,750 | $55,146 | 63% |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | About $15,000 | $21,500 | $57,289 | 69% |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | About $20,000 | $19,500 | $54,967 | 71% |
| Appalachian State University | About $17,000 | $20,231 | $51,836 | 75% |
| Manna University | About $15,000 | $13,450 | — | 80% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 5
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 63
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 15
- Massachusetts 47
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 79
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15