10 Most Affordable Online Colleges in North Carolina 2025

Many colleges and universities in North Carolina offer affordable online degrees by offering low tuition rates and financial aid options, such as the NC Promise.

Affordable online colleges are a great way for busy adult students to earn their degrees. These programs typically offer coursework in a flexible, asynchronous format, far more convenient than appearing on campus several times a week. Accredited online colleges in North Carolina offer numerous degree programs in fields spanning business, science, humanities, and much more.

The cheapest colleges in North Carolina are all public schools with extremely low tuition rates. Keep reading to discover the most affordable online schools in North Carolina.

List of the Cheapest & Most Affordable Online Colleges in North Carolina

While North Carolina's private colleges are somewhat pricey, its public schools are among the least expensive colleges in the state. Below, we've highlighted the 10 most affordable online schools in North Carolina.

1. Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville State University is a public university in Fayetteville, NC. It offers primarily bachelor's degrees online, but also a few master's degrees as well in fields like business, computer science, criminal justice, and social sciences.

Fayetteville State is part of the NC Promise program, which has reduced tuition to just $500 per semester, or $41.67 per credit, for in-state students earning an undergraduate degree. Out-of-state tuition is higher but still quite affordable, at $104.17 per credit.

2. University of North Carolina at Pembroke

At the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, students can earn online bachelor's and master's degrees. Areas of study include business administration, education, nursing, and sociology.

UNC Pembroke is also part of the NC Promise program, meaning in-state tuition is just $41.67 per credit. However, out-of-state students pay a little more here, at $208.33 per credit hour.

3. Western Carolina University

Western Carolina University offers undergraduate and graduate programs online in fields like criminal justice, education, healthcare, and management. WCU is a public university in Cullowhee, NC.

As another member of the NC Promise program, tuition for in-state students is $41.67 per credit. Like UNC Pembroke, out-of-state students pay $208.33 per credit hour.

4. Winston-Salem State University

Online bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees are available through Winston-Salem State University. Areas of study for these online programs are primarily focused in education or healthcare.

WSSU, based in Winston-Salem, NC, is a public HBCU. In-state students here pay $114.90 per credit, while out-of-state students pay $474.92 per credit.

5. North Carolina A&T State University

Listed as one of the best online colleges in North Carolina by U.S. News, North Carolina A&T State University is a public HBCU in Greensboro, NC. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees online in fields like business, computer science, education, and technology.

In-state students completing an undergraduate degree online pay $120 per credit. Out-of-state students pay $588 per credit for their online courses.

6. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Students at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro can earn online bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Areas of study include entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, healthcare, and liberal arts.

UNC Greensboro, also based in Greensboro, NC, is a public school. It charges residents $184.25 per credit for online learning, but non-residents pay quite a bit more, $865.54 per credit.

7. University of North Carolina at Wilmington

The University of North Carolina at Wilmington offers online undergraduate and graduate degrees in fields such as criminal justice, education, and healthcare. The public institution is based in Wilmington, NC.

Tuition at UNCW is only $185.13 for in-state residents in online bachelor's degree programs. However, the tuition rate for out-of-state students is $888.25 per credit hour.

8. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs are available online at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Areas of study for these distance education programs include business, education, engineering, and social sciences.

UNC Charlotte, a public school, is located in Charlotte, NC. The tuition rate for in-state students is $158.83 per credit, while the out-of-state rate is 769.75 per credit for undergraduate programs.

9. North Carolina Central University

North Carolina Central University is a public HBCU in Durham, NC. It offers online undergraduate and graduate degrees in fields such as education, environmental sciences, information technology, and social sciences.

Tuition for in-state students at NCCU is $185 per credit for undergraduate programs. The rate for out-of-state college students studying online is $727.67 per credit hour.

10. East Carolina University

Through East Carolina University, students can earn bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees online. Areas of study for these programs include business administration, communication, education, and technology.

ECU, based in Greenville, NC, is a public university. Tuition costs $204.79 per undergraduate credit for in-state students, while tuition for out-of-state residents is $883 per credit hour.

Our Selection Criteria

To choose the cheapest colleges in North Carolina, we focused on:

Location: All schools are located within the state.
Accreditation: Every school listed above is regionally accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Type: We selected only four-year public and private nonprofit schools.

Once we had this list, we sorted them by colleges with the lowest in-state tuition rates.

How Much Do Online Colleges in North Carolina Cost?

Of the inexpensive online colleges listed above, almost all are less than $200 per credit hour for in-state students in undergraduate programs. However, some schools offer much higher tuition rates, with costs climbing to over $1,000 per credit hour at some schools.

How Can I Make an Online Degree Affordable?

You can find extremely affordable online degrees in North Carolina from the schools we listed above. If you need additional financial assistance, be sure to consult with each school's financial aid officers to discover what other aid you might qualify for.

Learn more below on how to make an online degree more affordable:

FAQs About Low-Cost Online Schools in North Carolina

Below, we've answered some frequently asked questions about low-cost online schools in North Carolina.

Can You Do College Online in North Carolina?

You can absolutely pursue an online education in North Carolina. Nearly 40 colleges in the state offer some amount of online degree programs.

What Is the Cheapest Online College in North Carolina?

The cheapest online colleges in North Carolina are Fayetteville State University, UNC Pembroke, and Western Carolina University. These public colleges charge a tuition rate of $41.67 per credit for in-state undergraduate students.

What Is the Easiest Online College To Get Into in North Carolina?

Of all the four-year online colleges in North Carolina, the easiest to get into is St. Andrew's University. The university has an open admissions policy, meaning they accept all students who meet the minimum admissions criteria, which is usually a high school diploma or equivalent.

Of the affordable programs on this list, the easiest to get into is North Carolina A&T State, which has an acceptance rate of 96%.

Is Online College Free in North Carolina?

No schools in North Carolina offer online programs that are 100% free. However, many offer low tuition rates.

Additionally, students may qualify for the state's Next NC Scholarship, which covers up to full tuition costs at public colleges and universities. You'll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see if you qualify.

Find Accredited Online Degree Programs

Find affordable online degree programs by browsing the high-quality online degrees featured on Learn.org. Reach out to specific schools for more information on admissions, enrollment, and financial aid.