The college explorer
Find a college.
See what it returns.
Look beyond the sticker price. Explore real costs, graduate earnings, and how long a degree takes to pay for itself.
How we measure value3,376colleges to explore
434with a Strong ROI verdict
College Scorecard · 2026 release
Federal figures. Our calculations.
3,376 matching colleges · Showing 2,113–2,136
Compare collegesBrowse by state or territory
Payback guideStrong ≤5 yearsSolid ≤10Slow ≤20Weak >20 or no payback
North Carolina 115 matching
View state rankingWeak ROI
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC
Net price / year$13,315Payback48.5 years
Weak ROI
Cape Fear Community College
Wilmington, NC
Net price / year$9,610PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Fayetteville, NC
Net price / year$3,589PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Guilford Technical Community College
Jamestown, NC
Net price / year$15,002PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Forsyth Technical Community College
Winston-Salem, NC
Net price / year$7,200PaybackNot available
Solid ROI
Elon University
Elon, NC
Net price / year$41,555Payback6.3 years
Strong ROI
Duke University
Durham, NC
Net price / year$29,612Payback2.4 years
Weak ROI
North Carolina Central University
Durham, NC
Net price / year$15,359PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville, NC
Net price / year$7,892PaybackNot available
Strong ROI
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
Net price / year$28,719Payback3.9 years
Weak ROI
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Pembroke, NC
Net price / year$10,260PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Pitt Community College
Winterville, NC
Net price / year$7,337PaybackNot available
Slow ROI
High Point University
High Point, NC
Net price / year$38,707Payback11.9 years
Weak ROI
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
Asheville, NC
Net price / year$11,602PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Winston-Salem State University
Winston-Salem, NC
Net price / year$13,479PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Salisbury, NC
Net price / year$7,981PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Durham Technical Community College
Durham, NC
Net price / year$1,664PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Gaston College
Dallas, NC
Net price / year$6,592PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Johnston Community College
Smithfield, NC
Net price / year$1,776PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Central Carolina Community College
Sanford, NC
Net price / year$5,446PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Alamance Community College
Graham, NC
Net price / year$6,109PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
University of North Carolina Asheville
Asheville, NC
Net price / year$12,250PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Catawba Valley Community College
Hickory, NC
Net price / year$10,528PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Wayne Community College
Goldsboro, NC
Net price / year$2,245PaybackNot available