Best Education Programs in North Carolina (2026)
Education programs in North Carolina prepare students for K-12 teaching, special education, and educational leadership. The schools below are ranked by program strength, certification pass rates (where available), and net price — important for a field where starting salaries are modest.
#1
Duke University
Durham, NC
Net Price
$29,612/yr
Median Earnings
$97,800
Grad Rate
96%
Education Share
0.6%
#2
Davidson College
Davidson, NC
Net Price
$17,379/yr
Median Earnings
$81,400
Grad Rate
91%
Education Share
0.6%
#3
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
Net Price
$28,719/yr
Median Earnings
$78,158
Grad Rate
90%
Education Share
0.8%
#4
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
Net Price
$11,655/yr
Median Earnings
$72,200
Grad Rate
92%
Education Share
2.2%
#5
Elon University
Elon, NC
Net Price
$41,555/yr
Median Earnings
$74,545
Grad Rate
84%
Education Share
3.1%
#6
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC
Net Price
$17,303/yr
Median Earnings
$68,758
Grad Rate
85%
Education Share
2.1%
#7
High Point University
High Point, NC
Net Price
$38,707/yr
Median Earnings
$61,389
Grad Rate
72%
Education Share
4.6%
#8
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC
Net Price
$16,836/yr
Median Earnings
$51,836
Grad Rate
74%
Education Share
8.6%
#9
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Net Price
$20,109/yr
Median Earnings
$54,967
Grad Rate
71%
Education Share
3.5%
#10
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
Net Price
$15,435/yr
Median Earnings
$57,289
Grad Rate
68%
Education Share
2.6%
#11
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC
Net Price
$15,739/yr
Median Earnings
$55,146
Grad Rate
62%
Education Share
6.2%
#12
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
Net Price
$30,857/yr
Median Earnings
$57,673
Grad Rate
64%
Education Share
2.1%
#13
Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC
Net Price
$24,516/yr
Median Earnings
$54,886
Grad Rate
58%
Education Share
7.1%
#14
Meredith College
Raleigh, NC
Net Price
$22,488/yr
Median Earnings
$51,539
Grad Rate
68%
Education Share
1.8%
#15
Gardner-Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC
Net Price
$17,674/yr
Median Earnings
$48,039
Grad Rate
59%
Education Share
9.8%
#16
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC
Net Price
$13,315/yr
Median Earnings
$49,458
Grad Rate
60%
Education Share
7.7%
#17
Salem College
Winston-Salem, NC
Net Price
$18,277/yr
Median Earnings
$44,640
Grad Rate
57%
Education Share
11.8%
#18
Southeastern Free Will Baptist Bible College
Wendell, NC
Net Price
$12,602/yr
Median Earnings
—
Grad Rate
50%
Education Share
47.8%
#19
University of Mount Olive
Mount Olive, NC
Net Price
$18,853/yr
Median Earnings
$47,139
Grad Rate
50%
Education Share
12.2%
#20
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC
Net Price
$10,965/yr
Median Earnings
$48,160
Grad Rate
57%
Education Share
4.3%
#21
Wingate University
Wingate, NC
Net Price
$20,748/yr
Median Earnings
$52,649
Grad Rate
47%
Education Share
7.6%
#22
Pfeiffer University
Misenheimer, NC
Net Price
$19,076/yr
Median Earnings
$51,562
Grad Rate
39%
Education Share
13.1%
#23
Catawba College
Salisbury, NC
Net Price
$17,879/yr
Median Earnings
$48,793
Grad Rate
50%
Education Share
5.9%
#24
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Hickory, NC
Net Price
$20,689/yr
Median Earnings
$45,543
Grad Rate
49%
Education Share
6.5%
#25
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, NC
Net Price
$10,846/yr
Median Earnings
$44,440
Grad Rate
56%
Education Share
2.0%
Why a Education degree?
Special Education has 1% unemployment and 98% of districts report difficulty filling roles. Teacher shortages are the most severe in 30+ years.
Common career paths: Elementary Teacher · Special Education Teacher · High School Teacher · School Counselor · Principal/Administrator
Typical starting salary range: $45,000–$65,000
Find your best fit, not just the highest rank
Our 2-minute quiz weights cost, earnings, graduation rate, and other priorities to your family — and matches you to schools that actually fit, not just the top of a list.
Take the fit quiz →Other majors in North Carolina
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