Best colleges for accounting in North Carolina

    Appalachian State University ranks first in North Carolina for accounting value (#47 nationally, value score 71.6): graduates earn $85,580 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $16,082 a year.

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition · Source: College Scorecard field of study, reporting year 2025 · 9 North Carolina colleges ranked · Updated November 4, 2026

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    Best accounting colleges in North Carolina

    Appalachian State University ranks first in North Carolina for accounting value (#47 nationally, value score 71.6): graduates earn $85,580 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $16,082 a year. 9 North Carolina colleges qualify. At the median one, accounting graduates earn $77,940 and the average net price is $16,082 a year.

    Source: U.S. College Scorecard field of study, 2025

    What the data shows

    Key findings

    • 9 North Carolina colleges qualify. At the median one, accounting graduates earn $77,940 and the average net price is $16,082 a year.
    • The highest accounting earnings in the state are at Elon University ($105,707), ranked #3 in the state once cost, debt and graduation rate count.
    • The lowest average net price among them is at North Carolina A & T State University: $9,884 a year.
    Median earnings
    $77,940
    National: $76,108
    Median net price
    $16,082
    National: $17,285
    Median federal debt
    $18,750
    accounting graduates
    Public colleges
    7 of 9
    in this list

    9 colleges

    The North Carolina ranking

    Ordered by the national value score; the national rank is shown with each college. Earnings are medians 4 years after the bachelor's degree.

    1. Rank in North Carolina 1

      Appalachian State University

      Boone, NC · Public · #47 nationally

      71.6Value
      Earnings
      $85,580
      Net price
      $16,082
      Federal debt
      $16,394
      Graduation rate
      71%
    2. Rank in North Carolina 2

      North Carolina State University at Raleigh

      Raleigh, NC · Public · #51 nationally

      71.1Value
      Earnings
      $83,689
      Net price
      $16,486
      Federal debt
      $16,711
      Graduation rate
      85%
    3. Rank in North Carolina 3

      Elon University

      Elon, NC · Private nonprofit · #58 nationally

      70.0Value
      Earnings
      $105,707
      Net price
      $35,785
      Federal debt
      $20,750
      Graduation rate
      81%
    4. Rank in North Carolina 4

      East Carolina University

      Greenville, NC · Public · #126 nationally

      60.7Value
      Earnings
      $79,351
      Net price
      $16,880
      Federal debt
      $17,250
      Graduation rate
      63%
    5. Rank in North Carolina 5

      University of North Carolina at Charlotte

      Charlotte, NC · Public · #138 nationally

      58.9Value
      Earnings
      $76,690
      Net price
      $15,142
      Federal debt
      $18,750
      Graduation rate
      68%
    6. Rank in North Carolina 6

      North Carolina A & T State University

      Greensboro, NC · Public · #164 nationally

      55.4Value
      Earnings
      $77,940
      Net price
      $9,884
      Federal debt
      $24,183
      Graduation rate
      56%
    7. Rank in North Carolina 7

      University of North Carolina at Greensboro

      Greensboro, NC · Public · #243 nationally

      44.5Value
      Earnings
      $70,389
      Net price
      $12,291
      Federal debt
      $21,450
      Graduation rate
      58%
    8. Rank in North Carolina 8

      Western Carolina University

      Cullowhee, NC · Public · #267 nationally

      42.5Value
      Earnings
      $61,346
      Net price
      $13,025
      Federal debt
      $15,375
      Graduation rate
      61%
    9. Rank in North Carolina 9

      Gardner-Webb University

      Boiling Springs, NC · Private nonprofit · #404 nationally

      13.6Value
      Earnings
      $58,918
      Net price
      $21,150
      Federal debt
      $25,000
      Graduation rate
      48%

    Method: the same value score as the national accounting ranking (earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate, each a national percentile). Data: College Scorecard, reporting year 2025; 2026–27 edition, verified Nov 2026.

    Questions about accounting colleges in North Carolina

    What are the best colleges for accounting in North Carolina?

    By CollegesRef value score, the top 3 North Carolina colleges for accounting are Appalachian State University (value score 71.6), North Carolina State University at Raleigh (value score 71.1) and Elon University (value score 70). The score weighs graduate earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate.

    Which North Carolina college has the highest earnings for accounting graduates?

    Elon University: its accounting graduates have median earnings of $105,707 4 years after the bachelor's degree.

    What is the most affordable accounting college in North Carolina on this list?

    North Carolina A & T State University has the lowest average net price of the ranked North Carolina colleges, $9,884 a year after grants. A family's own price depends on income and aid.

    How many North Carolina colleges are ranked for accounting?

    9 North Carolina colleges have a accounting bachelor's program with enough graduates and reported earnings, plus a published net price and graduation rate. Ranks shown are national; the state rank is their order within North Carolina.