The Cheapest Colleges in North Carolina by Out of State Total Cost for 2022
If you're looking for an affordable university in North Carolina but aren't a state resident, these are the least expensive out of state colleges to consider. Additionally, if you are a foreign citizen and cannot qualify for in-state tuition, these are the cheapest universities in North Carolina for international students.
Affordable doesn't simply mean finding a school with a low published out of state total cost. It's important to research the typical financial aid package offered by a school, the average net price actually paid and most importantly the quality of education you receive for your tuition dollar. Sometimes a school which appears cheap based on list price can be a poor relative value if it can't award competitive financial aid or doesn't offer a quality education. The list below is a ranking on published out of state total cost with no consideration of actual average price paid or academic quality of the school. Please see the CollegeCalc best value colleges in North Carolina list for a ranking which considers school quality and average net price.
Total cost may factor in an estimated off-campus living expense if a school doens't provide housing. This estimate may vary widely by college. To view a rank by academic fees alone please see our North Carolina tuition ranking.
The most affordable four year colleges in North Carolina are listed by one year's out of state total cost list price for the 2020/2021 school year. Total cost includes tuition, room and board or estimated off campus living expenses, books and supplies and other fees.
What is the cheapest college in North Carolina? Leading the colleges list is Carolina Christian College in Winston Salem with an out of state total cost of $14,330.
Academic Rating is a CollegeCalc rating of a college's overall academics and effectiveness. The score ranges from zero to one hundred, with fifty being the median for all eligible colleges. Dollar value is a measure of a school's academic rating compared with the average price paid by students. Colleges which are ranked "n/a" didn't report sufficient data to formulate a score. Learn more about our rating methodology.
All price data are reprinted from the U.S. Department of Education's 2020/2021 IPEDS Survey and reflect reported costs for the 2020/2021 academic year.
| College | Out of State Total Cost | Rating | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
#41 Lees McRae CollegeBanner Elk, Private Not For Profit |
$39,460 | 37 | 15 |
#42 Montreat CollegeMontreat, Private Not For Profit |
$39,465 | 42 | 21 |
#43 Brevard CollegeBrevard, Private Not For Profit |
$41,650 | NA | NA |
#44 North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh, Public Not For Profit |
$41,904 | 79 | 91 |
#45 St. Andrews UniversityLaurinburg, Private Not For Profit |
$42,080 | NA | NA |
#46 Catawba CollegeSalisbury, Private Not For Profit |
$43,640 | 47 | 66 |
#47 Barton CollegeWilson, Private Not For Profit |
$43,790 | 37 | 19 |
#48 Gardner Webb UniversityBoiling Springs, Private Not For Profit |
$44,420 | 45 | 54 |
#49 William Peace UniversityRaleigh, Private Not For Profit |
$44,490 | 33 | 7 |
#50 Salem CollegeWinston Salem, Private Not For Profit |
$44,516 | 37 | 36 |
#51 North Carolina Wesleyan CollegeRocky Mount, Private Not For Profit |
$44,526 | 30 | 32 |
#52 Mars Hill UniversityMars Hill, Private Not For Profit |
$44,930 | NA | NA |
#53 Pfeiffer UniversityMisenheimer, Private Not For Profit |
$45,290 | 44 | 38 |
#54 University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, Public Not For Profit |
$48,889 | 88 | 99 |
#55 Campbell UniversityBuies Creek, Private Not For Profit |
$50,216 | 56 | 54 |
#56 Methodist UniversityFayetteville, Private Not For Profit |
$50,304 | 40 | 9 |
#57 Johnson & Wales University CharlotteCharlotte, Private Not For Profit |
$50,444 | NA | NA |
#58 Queens University of CharlotteCharlotte, Private Not For Profit |
$50,789 | 63 | 68 |
#59 Wingate UniversityWingate, Private Not For Profit |
$50,806 | NA | NA |
#60 Warren Wilson CollegeSwannanoa, Private Not For Profit |
$50,950 | 52 | 52 |