1
Wilkes Community CollegeWilkesboro, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- Aid covers full cost
- Net price (<$30K income)
- Aid covers full cost
- Median debt
- $7,625
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $32,842
- Enrollment
- 2,593
State cost ranking · DOE College Scorecard
Cheapest Colleges in North Carolina
In North Carolina, Wilkes Community College reports aid covering the full average cost among 145 Scorecard reporters, grant aid meets or exceeds the published net-price components for the average aided student.
- Aid covers full cost
- Cheapest net price
- $14,086
- North Carolina median
- 145
- Schools ranked
Wilkes Community College has the lowest average net price in North Carolina among Scorecard reporters
According to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Wilkes Community College posts the lowest average net price in North Carolina at Aid covers full cost among 145 ranked schools, with the state median 18% below the $17,124 national median. Net price is what students paid after grant aid, not sticker tuition, and can reflect a narrow enrollment mix at specialty schools.
Data source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Cheapest net price
- Aid covers full cost
- North Carolina median
- $14,086
- Schools ranked
- 145
- National median
- $17,124
Data updated August 2026 · IPEDS 2022–23 vintage
The list in one line
Wilkes Community College has the lowest average net price in North Carolina at Aid covers full cost, and the state's median net price is 18% below the $17,124 national median across 4,965 schools.
- Aid covers full cost
- cheapest ranked net price
- $14,086
- North Carolina median net price
- 73 public / 72 private
- schools in this ranking
- $12,172
- avg net price, <$30K income families
Average net price blends every income bracket; families under $30k average $12,172 here. Loans are excluded, open a school profile for the bracket table before treating one average as a personal cost.
Sticker tuition and real net price diverge most at Davidson College, where in-state published tuition of $64,410 falls to an average net price of $17,379 after aid, a $47,031 gap, the widest sticker-to-net gap among ranked North Carolina schools.
Across 145 ranked North Carolina schools, 73 are public and 72 are private. Sector sits beside every row because a low price at a specialty campus is not the same signal as a low price at a large public college.
The bar to make this top-25 list is $5,207. Here is where that cutoff sits among all 145 Scorecard-reporting North Carolina schools:
The bar to make North Carolina's top-25 cheapest list
Average net price after aid · 145 Scorecard-reporting schools
$5,207 Among the most affordable more affordable than 83% of 145 North Carolina colleges
Show national distribution
Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more North Carolina colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · 2022–23
North Carolina's 25 cheapest colleges by real net price
2
Cleveland Community CollegeShelby, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $995
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $498
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $30,126
- Enrollment
- 1,558
3
Piedmont Community CollegeRoxboro, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $1,095
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $2,072
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $30,680
- Enrollment
- 896
4
Pamlico Community CollegeGrantsboro, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $1,321
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $2,161
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $29,240
- Enrollment
- 263
5
Durham Technical Community CollegeDurham, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $1,664
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $525
- Median debt
- $14,750
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $31,129
- Enrollment
- 5,157
6
Johnston Community CollegeSmithfield, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $1,776
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $1,743
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $33,629
- Enrollment
- 5,371
7
James Sprunt Community CollegeKenansville, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $1,863
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $376
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $28,126
- Enrollment
- 1,519
8
Rockingham Community CollegeWentworth, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $2,060
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $1,161
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $31,431
- Enrollment
- 1,803
9
Wayne Community CollegeGoldsboro, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $2,245
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $1,371
- Median debt
- $6,500
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $31,900
- Enrollment
- 3,626
10
College of the AlbemarleElizabeth City, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $2,253
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $398
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $29,939
- Enrollment
- 2,905
11
Martin Community CollegeWilliamston, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $2,676
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $1,924
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $26,883
- Enrollment
- 891
12
Robeson Community CollegeLumberton, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $2,892
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $2,286
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $24,723
- Enrollment
- 2,238
13
Wilson Community CollegeWilson, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $3,064
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $2,584
- Median debt
- $10,500
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $29,332
- Enrollment
- 1,832
14
Sampson Community CollegeClinton, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $3,108
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $2,063
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $27,894
- Enrollment
- 1,526
15
Vance-Granville Community CollegeHenderson, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $3,286
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $1,701
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $29,763
- Enrollment
- 2,936
16
Craven Community CollegeNew Bern, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $3,289
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $2,428
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $32,904
- Enrollment
- 3,103
17
Nash Community CollegeRocky Mount, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $3,338
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $2,138
- Median debt
- $11,500
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $31,132
- Enrollment
- 2,780
18
Central Piedmont Community CollegeCharlotte, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $3,345
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $3,258
- Median debt
- $7,925
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $32,138
- Enrollment
- 20,375
19
Fayetteville Technical Community CollegeFayetteville, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $3,589
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $2,056
- Median debt
- $11,500
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $28,528
- Enrollment
- 11,755
20
Lenoir Community CollegeKinston, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $4,127
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $3,261
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $27,480
- Enrollment
- 2,591
21
Sandhills Community CollegePinehurst, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $4,157
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $2,674
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $28,363
- Enrollment
- 4,115
22
Leons Beauty School IncGreensboro, NC · Private for-profit
- Avg net price
- $4,799
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $4,148
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $21,953
- Enrollment
- 102
23
Surry Community CollegeDobson, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $4,961
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $3,483
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $30,884
- Enrollment
- 2,796
24
Richmond Community CollegeHamlet, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $5,071
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $4,289
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $27,720
- Enrollment
- 2,384
25
Southwestern Community CollegeSylva, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $5,207
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $4,982
- Median debt
- $10,500
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $31,660
- Enrollment
- 2,157
| # | College | Avg net price | Net price (<$30K income) | Median debt | Median earnings, 6yr | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilkes Community CollegeWilkesboro, NC · Public | Aid covers full cost101% of the leader · rank #1 | Aid covers full cost | $7,625 | $32,842 | 2,593 |
| 2 | Cleveland Community CollegeShelby, NC · Public | $99598% of the leader · rank #2 | $498 | - | $30,126 | 1,558 |
| 3 | Piedmont Community CollegeRoxboro, NC · Public | $1,09597% of the leader · rank #3 | $2,072 | - | $30,680 | 896 |
| 4 | Pamlico Community CollegeGrantsboro, NC · Public | $1,32197% of the leader · rank #4 | $2,161 | - | $29,240 | 263 |
| 5 | Durham Technical Community CollegeDurham, NC · Public | $1,66496% of the leader · rank #5 | $525 | $14,750 | $31,129 | 5,157 |
| 6 | Johnston Community CollegeSmithfield, NC · Public | $1,77696% of the leader · rank #6 | $1,743 | - | $33,629 | 5,371 |
| 7 | James Sprunt Community CollegeKenansville, NC · Public | $1,86396% of the leader · rank #7 | $376 | - | $28,126 | 1,519 |
| 8 | Rockingham Community CollegeWentworth, NC · Public | $2,06095% of the leader · rank #8 | $1,161 | - | $31,431 | 1,803 |
| 9 | Wayne Community CollegeGoldsboro, NC · Public | $2,24595% of the leader · rank #9 | $1,371 | $6,500 | $31,900 | 3,626 |
| 10 | College of the AlbemarleElizabeth City, NC · Public | $2,25395% of the leader · rank #10 | $398 | - | $29,939 | 2,905 |
| 11 | Martin Community CollegeWilliamston, NC · Public | $2,67694% of the leader · rank #11 | $1,924 | - | $26,883 | 891 |
| 12 | Robeson Community CollegeLumberton, NC · Public | $2,89293% of the leader · rank #12 | $2,286 | - | $24,723 | 2,238 |
| 13 | Wilson Community CollegeWilson, NC · Public | $3,06493% of the leader · rank #13 | $2,584 | $10,500 | $29,332 | 1,832 |
| 14 | Sampson Community CollegeClinton, NC · Public | $3,10893% of the leader · rank #14 | $2,063 | - | $27,894 | 1,526 |
| 15 | Vance-Granville Community CollegeHenderson, NC · Public | $3,28692% of the leader · rank #15 | $1,701 | - | $29,763 | 2,936 |
| 16 | Craven Community CollegeNew Bern, NC · Public | $3,28992% of the leader · rank #16 | $2,428 | - | $32,904 | 3,103 |
| 17 | Nash Community CollegeRocky Mount, NC · Public | $3,33892% of the leader · rank #17 | $2,138 | $11,500 | $31,132 | 2,780 |
| 18 | Central Piedmont Community CollegeCharlotte, NC · Public | $3,34592% of the leader · rank #18 | $3,258 | $7,925 | $32,138 | 20,375 |
| 19 | Fayetteville Technical Community CollegeFayetteville, NC · Public | $3,58991% of the leader · rank #19 | $2,056 | $11,500 | $28,528 | 11,755 |
| 20 | Lenoir Community CollegeKinston, NC · Public | $4,12790% of the leader · rank #20 | $3,261 | - | $27,480 | 2,591 |
| 21 | Sandhills Community CollegePinehurst, NC · Public | $4,15790% of the leader · rank #21 | $2,674 | - | $28,363 | 4,115 |
| 22 | Leons Beauty School IncGreensboro, NC · Private for-profit | $4,79988% of the leader · rank #22 | $4,148 | - | $21,953 | 102 |
| 23 | Surry Community CollegeDobson, NC · Public | $4,96188% of the leader · rank #23 | $3,483 | - | $30,884 | 2,796 |
| 24 | Richmond Community CollegeHamlet, NC · Public | $5,07188% of the leader · rank #24 | $4,289 | - | $27,720 | 2,384 |
| 25 | Southwestern Community CollegeSylva, NC · Public | $5,20787% of the leader · rank #25 | $4,982 | $10,500 | $31,660 | 2,157 |
Showing the 25 cheapest of 145 Scorecard-reporting North Carolina schools. The remaining 120 are ranked in the same net-price order but omitted from this HTML table so the page stays crawlable.
Look up any institution's exact rank via My School Profile, or open its school page for income-bracket net price, debt, and earnings.
Related
What this means for you
Use North Carolina's ranking as a starting point, real net price depends on your specific financial-aid package.
- Wilkes Community College reports the lowest average net price in North Carolina, but "average" blends every income bracket, check your bracket's figure before assuming it applies to you. View Wilkes Community College
- See your specific school's in-state cost rank and nearest-price peers. My School Profile
- Compare campus safety alongside cost before deciding. North Carolina safety
Figures reflect the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23 release.
Average net price = the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, excluding loans. Only schools with a reported average net price in the DOE College Scorecard dataset are ranked. This page lists the 25 cheapest; the title count is the full Scorecard-reporting cohort for North Carolina. Schools with fewer than 10 net-price-reporting institutions in a state or territory are not given a dedicated ranking page.
Some schools on this page show "Aid covers full cost" instead of a dollar figure. This reflects real federal data: at a small number of low-cost institutions, mostly community colleges with strong state or federal grant programs, average grant and scholarship aid meets or exceeds the cost-of-attendance components used in the net-price calculation, producing a reported net price of $0 or below for the average aided student. It is not a display error.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Every ranked figure on this page is queried directly from the DOE College Scorecard dataset at request time; no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.