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.
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#1
Duke University
Durham, NC
Net Price
$23,706/yr
Median Earnings
$113,937
Grad Rate
96%
Education Share
0.9%
#2
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
Net Price
$28,165/yr
Median Earnings
$104,443
Grad Rate
90%
Education Share
0.8%
#3
Davidson College
Davidson, NC
Net Price
$15,060/yr
Median Earnings
$89,297
Grad Rate
91%
Education Share
3.1%
#4
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
Net Price
$11,305/yr
Median Earnings
$81,094
Grad Rate
91%
Education Share
2.0%
#5
Elon University
Elon, NC
Net Price
$35,785/yr
Median Earnings
$82,524
Grad Rate
83%
Education Share
3.6%
#6
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC
Net Price
$16,486/yr
Median Earnings
$77,810
Grad Rate
85%
Education Share
2.7%
#7
High Point University
High Point, NC
Net Price
$41,019/yr
Median Earnings
$73,547
Grad Rate
73%
Education Share
3.2%
#8
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC
Net Price
$16,082/yr
Median Earnings
$57,488
Grad Rate
73%
Education Share
7.2%
#9
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Net Price
$19,570/yr
Median Earnings
$61,019
Grad Rate
71%
Education Share
3.6%
#10
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
Net Price
$15,142/yr
Median Earnings
$63,486
Grad Rate
69%
Education Share
2.1%
#11
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC
Net Price
$16,880/yr
Median Earnings
$60,387
Grad Rate
63%
Education Share
5.1%
#12
Meredith College
Raleigh, NC
Net Price
$22,801/yr
Median Earnings
$54,417
Grad Rate
71%
Education Share
0.9%
#13
Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC
Net Price
$25,057/yr
Median Earnings
$59,026
Grad Rate
60%
Education Share
5.4%
#14
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC
Net Price
$13,025/yr
Median Earnings
$53,764
Grad Rate
61%
Education Share
6.6%
#15
Gardner-Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC
Net Price
$21,150/yr
Median Earnings
$53,543
Grad Rate
51%
Education Share
12.9%
#16
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
Net Price
$29,421/yr
Median Earnings
$58,736
Grad Rate
59%
Education Share
1.0%
#17
University of Mount Olive
Mount Olive, NC
Net Price
$18,927/yr
Median Earnings
$54,851
Grad Rate
47%
Education Share
11.9%
#18
Catawba College
Salisbury, NC
Net Price
$15,993/yr
Median Earnings
$52,260
Grad Rate
48%
Education Share
12.8%
#19
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC
Net Price
$12,291/yr
Median Earnings
$53,402
Grad Rate
57%
Education Share
3.7%
#20
Wingate University
Wingate, NC
Net Price
$21,511/yr
Median Earnings
$57,646
Grad Rate
45%
Education Share
8.5%
#21
Lees-McRae College
Banner Elk, NC
Net Price
$28,253/yr
Median Earnings
$52,058
Grad Rate
44%
Education Share
12.9%
#22
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Hickory, NC
Net Price
$18,641/yr
Median Earnings
$54,752
Grad Rate
49%
Education Share
6.9%
#23
Belmont Abbey College
Belmont, NC
Net Price
$25,416/yr
Median Earnings
$53,850
Grad Rate
48%
Education Share
7.7%
#24
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, NC
Net Price
$9,884/yr
Median Earnings
$50,279
Grad Rate
57%
Education Share
1.8%
#25
Montreat College
Montreat, NC
Net Price
$25,095/yr
Median Earnings
$53,114
Grad Rate
47%
Education Share
6.6%
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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