Colleges with the lowest student debt in North Carolina
Colleges whose graduates leave with the least federal student debt.
Colleges with the lowest student debt in North Carolina18 schools
18 schools qualify, ranked by median debt.
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 the median federal loan debt of graduates from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by median debt, lowest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Duke University
Durham, NC · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in North Carolina
- Median debt $13,000
- 97% graduate
- 2
Manna University
Fayetteville, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $13,450
- 80% graduate
- 3
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Median debt $14,000
- 91% graduate
- 4
Carolinas College of Health Sciences
Charlotte, NC · PublicTop 1% for graduation
- Median debt $15,337
- 100% graduate
- 5
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
Concord, NC · Private nonprofitExceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $16,000
- 71% graduate
- 6
Davidson College
Davidson, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Median debt $18,688
- 91% graduate
- 7
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Median debt $19,500
- 71% graduate
- 8
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $20,121
- 85% graduate
- 9
- 10
- 11Tie
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $21,500
- 89% graduate
- 11Tie
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · PublicTop 22% for graduation
- Median debt $21,500
- 69% graduate
- 13
Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC · Private nonprofit#22 in North Carolina
- Median debt $22,500
- 61% graduate
- 14
- 15
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Winston Salem, NC · PublicExceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $23,870
- 78% graduate
- 16
High Point University
High Point, NC · Private nonprofitTop 16% for graduation
- Median debt $24,575
- 74% graduate
- 17Tie
Meredith College
Raleigh, NC · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- Median debt $25,000
- 70% graduate
- 17Tie
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Private nonprofit#16 in North Carolina
- Median debt $25,000
- 61% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke University | $29,612 | $13,000 | $97,800 | 97% |
| Manna University | $15,210 | $13,450 | — | 80% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $11,655 | $14,000 | $72,200 | 91% |
| Carolinas College of Health Sciences | — | $15,337 | $64,624 | 100% |
| Cabarrus College of Health Sciences | $17,618 | $16,000 | $58,708 | 71% |
| Davidson College | $17,379 | $18,688 | $81,400 | 91% |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | $20,109 | $19,500 | $54,967 | 71% |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | $17,303 | $20,121 | $68,758 | 85% |
| Appalachian State University | $16,836 | $20,231 | $51,836 | 75% |
| Elon University | $41,555 | $20,500 | $74,545 | 84% |
| Wake Forest University | $28,719 | $21,500 | $78,158 | 89% |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | $15,435 | $21,500 | $57,289 | 69% |
| Campbell University | $24,516 | $22,500 | $54,886 | 61% |
| East Carolina University | $15,739 | $22,750 | $55,146 | 63% |
| University of North Carolina School of the Arts | $14,906 | $23,870 | $38,357 | 78% |
| High Point University | $38,707 | $24,575 | $61,389 | 74% |
| Meredith College | $22,488 | $25,000 | $51,539 | 70% |
| Queens University of Charlotte | $30,857 | $25,000 | $57,673 | 61% |
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 61
- 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 46
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 16
- New York 75
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 21
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15