The Cheapest Colleges in North Carolina by Out of State Total Cost for 2023
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 2021/2022 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 $15,130.
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 2021/2022 IPEDS Survey and reflect reported costs for the 2021/2022 academic year.
| College | Out of State Total Cost | Rating | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
#1 Carolina Christian CollegeWinston Salem, Private Not For Profit |
$15,130 | NA | NA |
#2 Grace College of DivinityFayetteville, Private Not For Profit |
$16,179 | NA | NA |
#3 Shepherds Theological SeminaryCary, Private Not For Profit |
$16,226 | NA | NA |
#4 University of Phoenix Raleigh CampusRaleigh, Private For Profit |
$16,435 | NA | NA |
#5 University of Phoenix Charlotte CampusCharlotte, Private For Profit |
$16,470 | NA | NA |
#6 Carolina Bible CollegeFayetteville, Private Not For Profit |
$16,474 | NA | NA |
#7 Piedmont International UniversityWinston Salem, Private Not For Profit |
$16,590 | 52 | 51 |
#8 Elizabeth City State UniversityElizabeth City, Public Not For Profit |
$17,075 | 26 | 78 |
#9 University of North Carolina at PembrokePembroke, Public Not For Profit |
$19,179 | 26 | 9 |
#10 Heritage Bible CollegeDunn, Private Not For Profit |
$19,246 | NA | NA |
#11 Western Carolina UniversityCullowhee, Public Not For Profit |
$20,085 | 44 | 29 |
#12 Miller Motte College WilmingtonWilmington, Private For Profit |
$20,890 | NA | NA |
#13 Apex School of TheologyDurham, Private Not For Profit |
$23,250 | NA | NA |
#14 Laurel UniversityHigh Point, Private Not For Profit |
$23,510 | NA | NA |
#15 DeVry University North CarolinaCharlotte, Private For Profit |
$23,769 | NA | NA |
#16 Cabarrus College of Health SciencesConcord, Private Not For Profit |
$25,690 | 69 | 74 |
#17 New Life Theological SeminaryCharlotte, Private Not For Profit |
$26,122 | NA | NA |
#18 Shaw UniversityRaleigh, Private Not For Profit |
$26,294 | NA | NA |
#19 Livingstone CollegeSalisbury, Private Not For Profit |
$26,390 | 19 | 2 |
#20 Living Arts CollegeRaleigh, Private For Profit |
$26,692 | NA | NA |
#21 Saint Augustines CollegeRaleigh, Private Not For Profit |
$26,838 | 14 | NA |
#22 Fayetteville State UniversityFayetteville, Public Not For Profit |
$26,847 | 24 | 52 |
#23 Mid Atlantic Christian UniversityElizabeth City, Private Not For Profit |
$26,890 | 38 | 12 |
#24 Johnson C Smith UniversityCharlotte, Private Not For Profit |
$27,644 | 33 | 12 |
#25 Bennett College for WomenGreensboro, Private Not For Profit |
$28,550 | NA | NA |
#26 North Carolina A & T State UniversityGreensboro, Public Not For Profit |
$29,392 | 29 | 37 |
#27 Winston Salem State UniversityWinston-Salem, Public Not For Profit |
$30,033 | 27 | 14 |
#28 Belmont Abbey CollegeBelmont, Private Not For Profit |
$31,090 | 28 | 2 |
#29 Greensboro CollegeGreensboro, Private Not For Profit |
$31,584 | 29 | 8 |
#30 North Carolina Central UniversityDurham, Public Not For Profit |
$31,595 | 30 | 32 |
#31 South College AshevilleAsheville, Private For Profit |
$32,178 | NA | NA |
#32 Mount Olive CollegeMount Olive, Private Not For Profit |
$33,138 | 31 | 28 |
#33 University of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboro, Public Not For Profit |
$33,313 | 46 | 66 |
#34 Appalachian State UniversityBoone, Public Not For Profit |
$33,498 | 52 | 70 |
#35 University of North Carolina at WilmingtonWilmington, Public Not For Profit |
$33,779 | 60 | 42 |
#36 University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte, Public Not For Profit |
$34,517 | 53 | 37 |
#37 East Carolina UniversityGreenville, Public Not For Profit |
$35,570 | 45 | 28 |
#38 University of North Carolina at AshevilleAsheville, Public Not For Profit |
$36,115 | 54 | 55 |
#39 Chowan UniversityMurfreesboro, Private Not For Profit |
$36,480 | 15 | 1 |
#40 University of North Carolina School of the ArtsWinston-Salem, Public Not For Profit |
$39,027 | 66 | 85 |
#41 Lees McRae CollegeBanner Elk, Private Not For Profit |
$40,440 | 44 | 29 |
#42 Montreat CollegeMontreat, Private Not For Profit |
$40,490 | 40 | 16 |
#43 Brevard CollegeBrevard, Private Not For Profit |
$42,650 | NA | NA |
#44 North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh, Public Not For Profit |
$42,967 | 78 | 91 |
#45 St. Andrews UniversityLaurinburg, Private Not For Profit |
$43,230 | NA | NA |
#46 William Peace UniversityRaleigh, Private Not For Profit |
$44,490 | 40 | 18 |
#47 Gardner Webb UniversityBoiling Springs, Private Not For Profit |
$44,590 | 47 | 58 |
#48 Salem CollegeWinston Salem, Private Not For Profit |
$44,816 | 36 | 35 |
#49 Barton CollegeWilson, Private Not For Profit |
$44,900 | 29 | 5 |
#50 Catawba CollegeSalisbury, Private Not For Profit |
$44,910 | 51 | 74 |
#51 Mars Hill UniversityMars Hill, Private Not For Profit |
$45,589 | NA | NA |
#52 North Carolina Wesleyan CollegeRocky Mount, Private Not For Profit |
$45,589 | 34 | 42 |
#53 Pfeiffer UniversityMisenheimer, Private Not For Profit |
$46,254 | 51 | 51 |
#54 University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, Public Not For Profit |
$49,775 | 84 | 99 |
#55 Warren Wilson CollegeSwannanoa, Private Not For Profit |
$51,050 | 54 | 57 |
#56 Methodist UniversityFayetteville, Private Not For Profit |
$51,279 | 46 | 17 |
#57 Wingate UniversityWingate, Private Not For Profit |
$51,590 | NA | NA |
#58 Johnson & Wales University CharlotteCharlotte, Private Not For Profit |
$52,482 | NA | NA |
#59 Campbell UniversityBuies Creek, Private Not For Profit |
$52,685 | 54 | 47 |
#60 Elon UniversityElon, Private Not For Profit |
$53,047 | 75 | 30 |
#61 Queens University of CharlotteCharlotte, Private Not For Profit |
$53,188 | 62 | 64 |
#62 Meredith CollegeRaleigh, Private Not For Profit |
$54,194 | 61 | 65 |
#63 Guilford CollegeGreensboro, Private Not For Profit |
$55,210 | 46 | 37 |
#64 Lenoir Rhyne UniversityHickory, Private Not For Profit |
$55,660 | NA | NA |
#65 Davidson CollegeDavidson, Private Not For Profit |
$71,425 | 91 | 96 |
#66 Wake Forest UniversityWinston Salem, Private Not For Profit |
$77,314 | NA | NA |
#67 Duke UniversityDurham, Private Not For Profit |
$77,884 | 98 | 98 |