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What 4 years of college costs in North Carolina before aid

Across 69 four-year colleges in North Carolina, the projected 4-year in-state total runs from ~$11,800 to ~$323,300, with a median of ~$80,900. That median sits above the national median of ~$69,200. Every figure is an estimate from published rates before aid. Totals cover tuition and fees for 2026 entry; housing, meals, and books are extra.

Projected 4-year in-state total cost by school in North Carolina, in dollars.
SchoolSectorProjected 4-year totalGrowth / yr
University of North Carolina at Pembroke (projected from 2023 data)public~$11,800-4.3%
Elizabeth City State University (projected from 2023 data)public~$11,900-3.0%
Fayetteville State University (projected from 2023 data)public~$14,700-1.8%
Western Carolina University (projected from 2023 data)public~$15,400-3.6%
Miller-Motte College-Wilmington (projected from 2017 data)private~$26,600-4.8%
North Carolina A & T State University (2026-27 announced rate)public~$28,2001.3%
North Carolina Central University (projected from 2023 data)public~$28,5001.9%
Carolina College of Biblical Studies (projected from 2023 data)private~$28,9003.2%
Winston-Salem State University (projected from 2023 data)public~$29,6002.1%
University of North Carolina at Charlotte (projected from 2023 data)public~$30,9001.6%
University of North Carolina Wilmington (projected from 2023 data)public~$31,3001.5%
Heritage Bible College (projected from 2023 data)private~$31,700-2.0%
East Carolina University (projected from 2023 data)public~$32,2002.0%
University of North Carolina at Asheville (projected from 2023 data)public~$32,2001.7%
Appalachian State University (projected from 2023 data)public~$32,4001.6%
University of North Carolina at Greensboro (projected from 2023 data)public~$32,9001.8%
North Carolina State University at Raleigh (2026-27 announced rate)public~$37,4000.7%
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2026-27 announced rate)public~$37,9000.8%
University of North Carolina School of the Arts (projected from 2023 data)public~$40,4001.4%
Manna University (projected from 2023 data)private~$41,0008.2%
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (projected from 2023 data)private~$49,3003.6%
Southeastern Free Will Baptist Bible College (projected from 2023 data)private~$50,500national est.
Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary (projected from 2023 data)private~$55,9003.5%
DeVry University-North Carolina (projected from 2023 data)private~$56,300-1.4%
Strayer University-North Carolina (projected from 2023 data)private~$57,7000.8%
Carolina Christian College (projected from 2023 data)private~$58,0009.9%
Saint Augustine's University (projected from 2023 data)private~$65,700-0.6%
Shaw University (projected from 2023 data)private~$70,7000.5%
Greensboro College (projected from 2023 data)private~$71,200-3.0%
Galen Health Institutes-Asheville (projected from 2023 data)private~$73,600national est.
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences (projected from 2023 data)private~$75,6003.7%
Livingstone College (projected from 2023 data)private~$76,3000.9%
Belmont Abbey College (projected from 2023 data)private~$80,1000.6%
Mid-Atlantic Christian University (projected from 2023 data)private~$80,4003.4%
Bennett College (projected from 2023 data)private~$80,9001.2%
Chamberlain University-North Carolina (projected from 2023 data)private~$84,1000.7%
Johnson C Smith University (projected from 2023 data)private~$86,8001.3%
Carolina University (projected from 2023 data)private~$88,9007.5%
South University-High Point (projected from 2023 data)private~$91,1002.3%
Carolinas College of Health Sciences (projected from 2023 data)public~$91,2004.0%
Watts School of Nursing (projected from 2023 data)private~$107,8004.8%
Chowan University (projected from 2023 data)private~$118,0001.9%
Lenoir-Rhyne University (projected from 2023 data)private~$123,6000.0%
University of Mount Olive (projected from 2023 data)private~$125,5004.3%
Brevard College (projected from 2023 data)private~$136,6002.0%
St. Andrews University (projected from 2023 data)private~$140,6003.0%
Lees-McRae College (projected from 2023 data)private~$145,6003.1%
Catawba College (projected from 2023 data)private~$147,7002.2%
Gardner-Webb University (projected from 2023 data)private~$148,8002.4%
Salem College (projected from 2023 data)private~$149,0002.9%
William Peace University (projected from 2023 data)private~$153,9003.3%
Pfeiffer University (projected from 2023 data)private~$155,6003.1%
North Carolina Wesleyan University (projected from 2023 data)private~$162,0002.9%
Montreat College (projected from 2023 data)private~$162,7004.1%
Barton College (projected from 2023 data)private~$164,6003.3%
Mars Hill University (projected from 2023 data)private~$173,4003.4%
Guilford College (projected from 2023 data)private~$182,6002.3%
Warren Wilson College (projected from 2023 data)private~$184,3003.0%
Methodist University (projected from 2023 data)private~$185,4003.5%
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte (projected from 2023 data)private~$190,5003.9%
Campbell University (projected from 2023 data)private~$196,1004.4%
Queens University of Charlotte (projected from 2023 data)private~$202,7003.8%
Meredith College (projected from 2023 data)private~$205,6003.5%
High Point University (projected from 2023 data)private~$209,7003.8%
Wingate University (projected from 2023 data)private~$210,6005.3%
Elon University (2026-27 announced rate)private~$219,3004.3%
Wake Forest University (2026-27 announced rate)private~$310,0004.0%
Davidson College (2026-27 announced rate)private~$313,5004.2%
Duke University (2026-27 announced rate)private~$323,3004.0%

The 69 projected totals above for North Carolina are estimates: published in-state tuition and fees before aid, compounded at each school's own historical growth rate where one exists and a conservative national rate otherwise, bridged forward from each school's latest reported year. Housing, meals, and books are not included. See the methodology.