These NC colleges were named among best in US for ‘tuition and tax dollars’
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- Washington Monthly ranked App State and ECSU among top value colleges in 2025.
- App State adds $2.2B statewide impact and serves Pell Grant students in poverty.
- ECSU offers $500 in-state tuition under NC Promise and exceeds graduation forecasts.
Two North Carolina universities were recently named among the top 50 in the nation for “tuition and tax dollars.”
Washington Monthly, a D.C.-based publication, recently released its list of Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars composed of more than 1,400 institutions – and sixteen of those schools landed in the top 20%:
- Duke University: No. 16
- UNC Chapel Hill: No. 43
- Davidson College: No. 67
- UNC Greensboro: No. 79
- Appalachian State University: No. 127
- UNC Pembroke: No. 130
- Salem College: No. 156
- East Carolina University: No. 159
- Wake Forest University: No. 163
- Western Carolina University: No. 165
- UNC Charlotte: No. 171
- N.C. State University: No. 179
- Elizabeth City State University: No. 191
- Fayetteville State University: No. 198
- N.C. Central University: No. 212
- Winston-Salem State University: No. 236
“We’ve revamped our methodology to focus even more squarely on what we think Americans most want from our colleges and universities: that they help students of modest means earn degrees that pay off in the marketplace, don’t saddle them with heavy debt, and prepare—indeed, encourage—them to become active members of our democracy,” Washington Monthly says.
The list comes around the same time Forbes dropped its latest list of the best colleges in the United States, where many of the same schools were recognized.
The Monthly highlighted two schools on the list, Appalachian State and Elizabeth City State, to show how the two universities cater to diverse groups, making them accessible to people with otherwise limited options.
Here’s what you need to know.
Is Appalachian State a good school?
Appalachian State University faces the challenge of serving a region with “beautiful vistas, a bustling logging industry, and limited economic opportunity,” according to Washington Monthly.
In Watauga County, 18.6% of residents live in poverty, well above the national average. However, the school provides an “affordable pipeline to the workforce” with an annual net price of $10,681 and average graduate debt of $20,334.
Roughly a quarter of its 21,570 students receive Pell Grants, and with an 89% acceptance rate, the university makes “access to a respectable education easy.” Military service is also a common pathway, with Appalachian State enrolling high numbers in ROTC.
Beyond academics, the university has become “an economic mainstay for the region,” adding $573 million to nearby counties and $2.2 billion statewide in 2023.
Students enjoy the “beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains” and a lively campus culture, from outdoor recreation to quirky traditions like the NEERly Naked Mile, Washington Monthly says, concluding with, “That’s the spirit of Appalachian State: celebrating what’s unique about its community, while taking every opportunity to lift it up.”
Is Elizabeth City State University a good school?
Elizabeth City State University, a 134-year-old historically Black college in the UNC system, stands out for its “extraordinarily low cost” of education, according to Washington Monthly. Thanks to the state’s NC Promise program, tuition runs just $500 for in-state students, bringing the average net price after aid to only $3,797, among the lowest in the nation.
The school draws about 1,000 Pell Grant recipients each year out of a total enrollment of 2,261. With a 70% acceptance rate, it provides wide access, and 43% of students graduate within eight years.
According to the Monthly, Elizabeth City “carefully caters to a student body whose academic preparation reflects the struggles of K-12 schools in its region,” offering early campus immersion and close support to keep students on track.
Tradition also defines the student experience, from the once-candlelit matriculation ceremony to the town’s annual “Moth Boat Regatta.” As former Chancellor Karrie G. Dixon put it, “People are taking note that we are providing access to a high-quality education at an affordable price.”
Other NC schools on the list
A few other North Carolina colleges were included near the top of the list, including UNC Wilmington, just outside the top 20% at No. 248, N.C. A&T State University at No. 250 and UNC Asheville at No. 355.
Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs was the lowest-ranked North Carolina school, coming in at No. 761.
Inspired by a story from the Lexington Herald Leader in Kentucky.
This story was originally published September 9, 2025 at 10:54 AM with the headline "These NC colleges were named among best in US for ‘tuition and tax dollars’."
