North Carolina Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide
This guide to teaching schools in North Carolina is designed to help aspiring teachers meet the state’s certification requirements. North Carolina requires all teachers to complete a state-approved teacher preparation program from an accredited school before teaching. Fortunately, several accredited colleges and universities in the state offer these programs. Continue reading to review our table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs and curated lists of affordable and top-ranked programs.
Table of Contents
- NC Teacher Preparation Program Comparison
- 26 Affordable NC Bachelor’s in Education Programs
- Top-Ranked North Carolina Education Programs
- Best Bachelor’s in Education Programs
- Best Online M.Ed. Programs
- Schools With Associate Degrees in Education
Comparison of North Carolina Schools With Teacher Preparation Programs
The table below compares 46 North Carolina teacher preparation programs across key factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). Completing a state-approved program is a key step toward licensure. While Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accreditation is not required for licensure, we include it because CAEP is a nationally respected accreditor whose standards are recognized or accepted in many states.
Data includes enrollment, completion, and pass rates for traditional and alternative programs, based on the 2024 Title II Report (2022-2023 school year). Traditional programs are usually part of a bachelor’s degree, while alternative certification programs target career changers and may lead to a certificate or master’s degree. Many schools offer both—review our North Carolina traditional certification guide and our North Carolina alternative certification guide for more. Net price reflects the average annual cost for in-state undergraduates—tuition, books, room and board—minus grants and scholarships.
| State-Approved School | CAEP Accred.?1 | Trad. Teacher Program Enrollment2 | Trad. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers2 | Trad. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2 | Alt. Teacher Program Enrollment2 | Alt. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers2 | Alt. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2 | Net Price3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian State University | Yes | 1821 | 399 | 68% | 186 | 61 | 85% | $10,687 |
| Barton College | No | 16 | 6 | N.Av. | 143 | 28 | 100% | $24,111 |
| Belmont Abbey College | No | 32 | 16 | N.Av. | 2 | 2 | N.Av. | $22,333 |
| Bennett College | No | 1 | 1 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $20,062 |
| Brevard College | No | 11 | 4 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $23,001 |
| Campbell University | No | 120 | 56 | 78% | 168 | 28 | 82% | $26,299 |
| Catawba College | No | 29 | 17 | 100% | 3 | 2 | N.Av. | $18,657 |
| Chowan University | No | 2 | 2 | N.Av. | 12 | 12 | 50% | $16,784 |
| Duke University | Yes | 30 | 10 | 100% | — | — | — | $26,932 |
| East Carolina University | Yes | 621 | 358 | 78% | 812 | 280 | 88% | $15,403 |
| Elizabeth City State University | Yes | 101 | 44 | 33% | 57 | 13 | N.Av. | $3,270 |
| Elon University | Yes | 146 | 57 | 86% | — | — | — | $39,401 |
| Fayetteville State University | Yes | 66 | 36 | 34% | 242 | 56 | 35% | $7,016 |
| Gardner-Webb University | Yes | 144 | 49 | 73% | 144 | 49 | N.Av. | $20,363 |
| Greensboro College | No | 13 | 4 | N.Av. | 56 | 20 | 100% | $17,783 |
| Guilford College | No | 11 | 4 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $24,640 |
| High Point University | Yes | 34 | 18 | 94% | 65 | 27 | 65% | $40,719 |
| Lees-McRae College | No | 62 | 28 | 77% | — | — | — | $24,390 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | No | 52 | 28 | 89% | — | — | — | $18,814 |
| Livingstone College | No | 4 | 4 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $16,016 |
| Mars Hill University | No | 53 | 21 | 72% | — | — | — | $18,195 |
| Meredith College | Yes | 106 | 37 | 89% | — | — | — | $25,357 |
| Methodist University | No | 17 | 5 | N.Av. | 23 | 7 | N.Av. | $31,730 |
| Mid-Atlantic Christian University | No | 10 | 3 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $21,276 |
| Montreat College | No | 9 | 5 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $23,906 |
| North Carolina A&T State University | Yes | 76 | 24 | 100% | 123 | 36 | 100% | $9,541 |
| North Carolina Central University | Yes | 395 | 28 | 100% | 21 | 2 | N.Av. | $13,324 |
| North Carolina State University | Yes | 818 | 257 | 83% | 111 | 49 | 84% | $14,600 |
| North Carolina Wesleyan College | Yes | 38 | 9 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $16,772 |
| Pfeiffer University | Yes | 43 | 11 | 100% | 24 | 1 | N.Av. | $22,121 |
| Queens University of Charlotte | Yes | 41 | 16 | 69% | 12 | — | — | $25,756 |
| Saint Augustine’s University | No | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | $18,662 |
| Salem College | No | 38 | 15 | 73% | — | — | — | $19,128 |
| Shaw University | Yes | 47 | 13 | N.Av. | 9 | 3 | N.Av. | $17,785 |
| University of Mount Olive | No | 108 | 33 | 67% | 207 | 83 | 71% | $14,805 |
| University of North Carolina Asheville | Yes | 99 | 24 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $13,411 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Yes | 85 | 50 | 94% | — | — | — | $10,038 |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Yes | 945 | 330 | 84% | 533 | 179 | 82% | $16,029 |
| University of North Carolina Greensboro | Yes | 513 | 198 | 62% | 77 | 29 | 83% | $9,853 |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Yes | 173 | 97 | 62% | 317 | 124 | 54% | $10,069 |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | Yes | 580 | 228 | 77% | 5 | — | — | $17,946 |
| Wake Forest University | No | 33 | 18 | 100% | — | — | — | $26,324 |
| Western Carolina University | Yes | 458 | 167 | 77% | 219 | 63 | 90% | $13,221 |
| William Peace University | No | 21 | 9 | N.Av. | 30 | 3 | N.Av. | $25,841 |
| Wingate University | No | 62 | 22 | 73% | 13 | 5 | N.Av. | $20,594 |
| Winston-Salem State University | Yes | 138 | 29 | 38% | 19 | 11 | N.Av. | $11,868 |
- — indicates none or not applicable.
- N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.
Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Education Programs in North Carolina
Our list of the most affordable bachelor’s in education programs is based on the net price per year for undergraduate tuition. Net price is the average cost of attendance after grants and scholarships are applied. These 26 most affordable schools have a net price under $20,000.
- Elizabeth City State University ($3,270)
- Fayetteville State University ($7,016)
- North Carolina A&T State University ($9,541)
- University of North Carolina Greensboro ($9,853)
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ($10,038)
- University of North Carolina at Pembroke ($10,069)
- Appalachian State University ($10,687)
- Winston-Salem State University ($11,868)
- Western Carolina University ($13,221)
- North Carolina Central University ($13,324)
- University of North Carolina Asheville ($13,411)
- North Carolina State University ($14,600)
- University of Mount Olive ($14,805)
- East Carolina University ($15,403)
- Livingstone College ($16,016)
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte ($16,029)
- North Carolina Wesleyan College ($16,772)
- Chowan University ($16,784)
- Greensboro College ($17,783)
- Shaw University ($17,785)
- University of North Carolina Wilmington ($17,946)
- Mars Hill University ($18,195)
- Catawba College ($18,657)
- Saint Augustine’s University ($18,662)
- Lenoir-Rhyne University ($18,814)
- Salem College ($19,128)3
Top-Ranked Schools With Education Programs in North Carolina
Best Bachelor’s in Education Programs in North Carolina
Our list of the top 8 bachelor’s in education programs is based on the traditional pathway pass rate data from the 2024 Title II Reports.
- Catawba College (100%)
- Duke University (100%)
- North Carolina A&T State University (100%)
- North Carolina Central University (100%)
- Pfeiffer University (100%)
- Wake Forest University (100%)
- High Point University (94%)
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (94%)2
Best Online Master of Education Programs in North Carolina
Visit our ranking of the best online Master of Education (M.Ed.) programs in North Carolina to see the full list plus a breakdown of the most affordable schools.
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- Western Carolina University
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- North Carolina State University
- Wingate University
Schools With Associate Degrees in Education
While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational level required to qualify for state certification, an associate degree can be the first step toward a career in education. It can qualify graduates for careers in non-licensed roles in early childhood education, after-school care, and related areas. The credits earned from an accredited associate degree program can also typically be transferred toward a bachelor’s degree. The 60 North Carolina schools below offer associate degrees in education.3 Schools with an asterisk (*) also offer four-year teaching programs and/or alternative route to certification programs.
- Alamance Community College
- Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
- Beaufort County Community College
- Bladen Community College
- Blue Ridge Community College
- Brunswick Community College
- Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
- Campbell University*
- Cape Fear Community College
- Carolina University*
- Carteret Community College*
- Catawba Valley Community College
- Central Carolina Community College
- Central Piedmont Community College
- Cleveland Community College
- Coastal Carolina Community College
- College of the Albemarle
- Craven Community College
- Davidson-Davie Community College
- Durham Technical Community College
- Edgecombe Community College
- Fayetteville Technical Community College
- Forsyth Technical Community College
- Gaston College
- Guilford Technical Community College
- Halifax Community College
- Haywood Community College*
- Isothermal Community College
- James Sprunt Community College
- Johnston Community College
- Lenoir Community College
- Martin Community College
- Mayland Community College
- McDowell Technical Community College
- Mitchell Community College
- Montgomery Community College
- Nash Community College
- Pamlico Community College
- Piedmont Community College
- Pitt Community College
- Randolph Community College
- Richmond Community College
- Roanoke-Chowan Community College
- Robeson Community College
- Rockingham Community College
- Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
- Sampson Community College
- Sandhills Community College
- South Piedmont Community College*
- Southeastern Community College
- Southwestern Community College
- Stanly Community College
- Surry Community College
- Tri-County Community College
- Vance-Granville Community College
- Wake Technical Community College
- Wayne Community College
- Western Piedmont Community College
- Wilkes Community College
- Wilson Community College
References:
1. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): https://caepnet.org/provider-search
2. US Department of Education 2024 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx
3. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/