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The 9 cheapest colleges in North Carolina (we did the math!)

By Britteny Dee

January 31, 2025

Attending college in North Carolina doesn’t have to break the bank. Check out the cheapest colleges in the state. 

Getting an education in the U.S. can be expensive: The average cost of college in the country, including books, supplies, and living expenses, is almost $40,000 per year.

Fortunately, North Carolina is home to plenty of affordable colleges with diverse degree options, beautiful campuses, and a variety of clubs and organizations. 

Because there are so many great colleges in the Tar Heel State, deciding which ones to apply to can feel overwhelming. So we did the research for you, compiling a list of the best colleges in North Carolina that are also affordable.

We looked at tuition information for the 2024-2025 academic year at four-year public universities throughout North Carolina to find the cheapest colleges in the state. All tuition figures listed throughout this article are annual unless otherwise noted. Keep in mind that you’ll still have to pay for things like room and board, books, and other school supplies. 

With all the above in mind, read on to discover some of the top colleges in North Carolina where you can receive an excellent education without breaking the bank

 The library and student union at Appalachian State.

The library and student union at Appalachian State. (Clayhefner/Wikimedia Commons).

9. Appalachian State

Tuition in-state/out-of-state: $8,135/$25,768 (including fees, annually)

Location: Boone

Appalachian State was founded in 1899 as a teachers college. Today, it has about 21,570 students, more than 400 clubs and organizations, and 150 undergraduate majors ranging from anthropology and biology to computer science and geology. The campus is located in the charming town of Boone set among the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains.

Appalachian State isn’t the cheapest college in our roundup—however, an impressive 25% of students graduate with no debt. 

The exterior of Wright Auditorium at East Carolina University.

The exterior of Wright Auditorium at East Carolina University. (Billy Wilson/Flickr).

8. East Carolina University 

Tuition in-state/out-of-state: $7,516/$23,793 (including fees, annually)

Location: Greenville

East Carolina University offers 85 Bachelor’s degrees, with nursing, management, biology, and marketing among the most popular.

The university, founded in 1907 as East Carolina Teachers’ Training School, is one of North Carolina’s largest higher education institutions with about 26,785 students. There are more than 375 student clubs and organizations to join, and the campus is close to plenty of popular Greenville restaurants and bars. 

Students sitting on a lawn among blooming crab apple trees at UNC Asheville.

Students sitting on a lawn among blooming crab apple trees at UNC Asheville. (Blue Bullfrog/Flickr).

7. University of North Carolina Asheville

Tuition in-state/out-of-state: $3,750/$12,424 (including fees, per semester)

Location: Asheville 

University of North Carolina Asheville is a small liberal arts and sciences college with almost 3,000 undergraduate students. It offers 34 majors—including art history, environmental science, psychology, and history—and more than 70 clubs and organizations. It was also named one of the Southeast’s “hidden gem” colleges by College Raptor. Plus, it only takes 10 minutes to get from campus to trendy downtown Asheville.

The front of The Old Main, the oldest building on UNC Pembroke’s campus.

The front of The Old Main, the oldest building on UNC Pembroke’s campus. (Jopparn/Wikimedia Commons).

6. University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Tuition in-state/out-of-state: $3,648/$7,648 (including fees, per semester)

Location: Pembroke

University of North Carolina at Pembroke is included in the “NC Promise” program, an initiative that offers $500 tuition for in-state students to attend several North Carolina colleges. UNC Pembroke was founded in 1887 as a school for American Indians and currently has about 7,630 students. 

UNC Pembroke has eight different colleges and schools with areas of focus including the arts and sciences, health sciences, nursing, and business and economics, plus more than 120 student clubs and organizations. 

Aerial photo of UNC Charlotte’s campus.

Aerial photo of UNC Charlotte’s campus. (James Willamor/Flickr).

5. University of North Carolina at Charlotte 

Tuition in-state/out-of-state: $7,020/$22,274 (including fees, annually)

Location: Charlotte 

University of North Carolina at Charlotte is the largest school on this list with a total enrollment of more than 30,000 (with about 24,000 undergrads). The university also offers an impressive number of student organizations—more than 350—and boasts eight colleges with almost 79 bachelor’s degree programs. 

Students get the added bonus of being in Charlotte, a lively city packed with bars, restaurants, and fun attractions.  

Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University.

Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University. (Warren LeMay/Wikimedia Commons).

4. Western Carolina University

Tuition in-state/out-of-state: $3,497/$5,497 (including fees, per semester)

Location: Cullowhee

Western Carolina University also participates in the NC Promise program.

Western Carolina University has about 11,000 students and more than 115 undergraduate majors ranging from accounting and chemistry to English and interior design. The university’s location in Cullowhee is ideal for nature lovers, with national forests and parks, like Great Smoky Mountains National Park, as well as lakes, rivers, and the Appalachian Trail all nearby. 

The Sound of Class Marching Band performs in support of the Vikings at Elizabeth City State University.

The Sound of Class Marching Band performs in support of the Vikings at Elizabeth City State University. (Kevin Coles/Flickr).

3. Elizabeth City State University

Tuition in-state/out-of-state: $6,956/$10,956 (including fees, annually)

Location: Elizabeth City

Elizabeth City State University—named one of the best value colleges in North Carolina by Niche—was founded in 1891 with the goal of bringing “world-class education within reach of African American students.” The university has about 2,260 students, and its signature areas of study include the humanities, education, and aviation.

The school’s annual tuition is already affordable, but it’s even cheaper now thanks to the NC Promise Tuition Plan, which reduces tuition at select universities in the state. Because of this plan, North Carolina residents can attend Elizabeth City State University for $500 per semester (housing, living expenses, and other fees not included). Out-state students now also pay a reduced tuition fee of $2,500.

The Sound of Class Marching Band performs in support of the Vikings at Elizabeth City State University.

NC A&T University

2. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Tuition in-state/out-of-state: $6,748/$20,408 (including fees, annually)

Location: Greensboro 

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is the largest historically Black university in the U.S. This land-grant university has more than 14,300 students and nearly 60 undergraduate degree programs. The school puts a heavy emphasis on STEM education, offering undergraduate degrees in atmospheric sciences and meteorology, biological engineering, chemistry, and physics, to name a few. 

Charles W. Chesnutt Library on Fayetteville State University campus.

Charles W. Chesnutt Library on Fayetteville State University campus. (LTreadwell/Wikimedia Commons).

1. Fayetteville State University

Tuition in-state/out-of-state: $2,176/$4,176 (including fees, per semester)

Location: Fayetteville

Fayetteville State University is a historically Black university that was founded in 1867. About 6,500 students attend Fayetteville State University, which offers more than 40 baccalaureate degrees ranging from art education and forensic science to healthcare administration and psychology. 

In addition to being an NC Promise school, Fayetteville State University offers students additional ways to save money, such as its Bronco Boost program. This program allows incoming freshmen to live on campus and take college courses for free for seven weeks before the official start of their first fall semester. 

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.The 9 cheapest colleges in North Carolina (we did the math!)The 9 cheapest colleges in North Carolina (we did the math!)

READ MORE: Western NC small businesses pick up the pieces after Hurricane Helene

Author

  • Britteny Dee

    Britteny has worked as a professional writer for more than a decade. She launched her career as a features writer in New York City, covering fashion, food, hospitality, and beauty. She has contributed to a variety of publications, including Bitches Who Brunch, International Business Times and Glam.

CATEGORIES: EDUCATION
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