1
Wilkes Community College Wilkesboro, 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 College Shelby, NC · Public
- Avg net price
- $995
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $498
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $30,126
- Enrollment
- 1,558
3
Piedmont Community College Roxboro, 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 College Grantsboro, 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 College Durham, 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 College Smithfield, 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 College Kenansville, 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 College Wentworth, 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 College Goldsboro, 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 Albemarle Elizabeth 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 College Williamston, 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 College Lumberton, 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 College Wilson, 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 College Clinton, 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 College Henderson, 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 College New 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 College Rocky 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 College Charlotte, 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 College Fayetteville, 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 College Kinston, 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 College Pinehurst, 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 Inc Greensboro, 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 College Dobson, 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 College Hamlet, 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 College Sylva, 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 College Wilkesboro, NC · Public | Aid covers full cost 101% of the leader · rank #1 | Aid covers full cost | $7,625 | $32,842 | 2,593 |
| 2 | Cleveland Community College Shelby, NC · Public | $995 98% of the leader · rank #2 | $498 | - | $30,126 | 1,558 |
| 3 | Piedmont Community College Roxboro, NC · Public | $1,095 97% of the leader · rank #3 | $2,072 | - | $30,680 | 896 |
| 4 | Pamlico Community College Grantsboro, NC · Public | $1,321 97% of the leader · rank #4 | $2,161 | - | $29,240 | 263 |
| 5 | Durham Technical Community College Durham, NC · Public | $1,664 96% of the leader · rank #5 | $525 | $14,750 | $31,129 | 5,157 |
| 6 | Johnston Community College Smithfield, NC · Public | $1,776 96% of the leader · rank #6 | $1,743 | - | $33,629 | 5,371 |
| 7 | James Sprunt Community College Kenansville, NC · Public | $1,863 96% of the leader · rank #7 | $376 | - | $28,126 | 1,519 |
| 8 | Rockingham Community College Wentworth, NC · Public | $2,060 95% of the leader · rank #8 | $1,161 | - | $31,431 | 1,803 |
| 9 | Wayne Community College Goldsboro, NC · Public | $2,245 95% of the leader · rank #9 | $1,371 | $6,500 | $31,900 | 3,626 |
| 10 | College of the Albemarle Elizabeth City, NC · Public | $2,253 95% of the leader · rank #10 | $398 | - | $29,939 | 2,905 |
| 11 | Martin Community College Williamston, NC · Public | $2,676 94% of the leader · rank #11 | $1,924 | - | $26,883 | 891 |
| 12 | Robeson Community College Lumberton, NC · Public | $2,892 93% of the leader · rank #12 | $2,286 | - | $24,723 | 2,238 |
| 13 | Wilson Community College Wilson, NC · Public | $3,064 93% of the leader · rank #13 | $2,584 | $10,500 | $29,332 | 1,832 |
| 14 | Sampson Community College Clinton, NC · Public | $3,108 93% of the leader · rank #14 | $2,063 | - | $27,894 | 1,526 |
| 15 | Vance-Granville Community College Henderson, NC · Public | $3,286 92% of the leader · rank #15 | $1,701 | - | $29,763 | 2,936 |
| 16 | Craven Community College New Bern, NC · Public | $3,289 92% of the leader · rank #16 | $2,428 | - | $32,904 | 3,103 |
| 17 | Nash Community College Rocky Mount, NC · Public | $3,338 92% of the leader · rank #17 | $2,138 | $11,500 | $31,132 | 2,780 |
| 18 | Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NC · Public | $3,345 92% of the leader · rank #18 | $3,258 | $7,925 | $32,138 | 20,375 |
| 19 | Fayetteville Technical Community College Fayetteville, NC · Public | $3,589 91% of the leader · rank #19 | $2,056 | $11,500 | $28,528 | 11,755 |
| 20 | Lenoir Community College Kinston, NC · Public | $4,127 90% of the leader · rank #20 | $3,261 | - | $27,480 | 2,591 |
| 21 | Sandhills Community College Pinehurst, NC · Public | $4,157 90% of the leader · rank #21 | $2,674 | - | $28,363 | 4,115 |
| 22 | Leons Beauty School Inc Greensboro, NC · Private for-profit | $4,799 88% of the leader · rank #22 | $4,148 | - | $21,953 | 102 |
| 23 | Surry Community College Dobson, NC · Public | $4,961 88% of the leader · rank #23 | $3,483 | - | $30,884 | 2,796 |
| 24 | Richmond Community College Hamlet, NC · Public | $5,071 88% of the leader · rank #24 | $4,289 | - | $27,720 | 2,384 |
| 25 | Southwestern Community College Sylva, NC · Public | $5,207 87% 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.