Greensboro, North Carolina Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)

Last updated: June 4, 2026 Source: College Scorecard

TL;DR

Colleges in Greensboro, North Carolina: median public in-state tuition $18,484 (+235.3% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $46,566 (-14.4% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 85.7% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $25,804 (+94.4% vs U.S.) 31,003 students enrolled statewide.

Key Facts

  • Institutions in this profile: 10 campuses
  • Total college enrollment: 31,003 students
  • Median public in-state tuition: $18,484 (+235.3% vs U.S.)
  • Median earnings 10 years after entry: $46,566 (-14.4% vs U.S.)
  • Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 85.7% (-2.3 pp vs U.S.)
  • Median net price: $16,932 (+69.8% vs U.S.)
  • Median student debt at graduation: $25,804 (+94.4% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,456
  • Average completion rate (institutions in state): 46.0%
  • Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 71.7%

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Overview

Colleges and universities in Greensboro serve students across North Carolina with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 10 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 31,003 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $18,484. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Greensboro, North Carolina and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.

Greensboro vs North Carolina & national benchmarks

Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.

State versus regional and national education metrics
Geography In-state tuition Net price Median debt Completion rate Enrollment
Greensboro, North Carolina$18,484$16,932$25,80446.0%31,003
North Carolina (state median)$2,613$6,820$20,00052.0%421,744
United States$5,512$9,969$13,27150.3%14,468,221

Earnings & employment outcomes: Greensboro, North Carolina vs benchmarks

Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.

Earnings and employment outcome benchmarks
Geography Median earnings (10 yr) Working & not enrolled (8 yr) Retention (FT yr 1) 2-yr default 3-yr default 3-yr repayment progress Debt ÷ earnings
Greensboro, North Carolina$46,56685.7%71.7%7.3%—51.8%0.55
North Carolina (state median)$47,36486.1%73.1%6.8%—64.8%0.54
United States$54,38488.0%76.4%5.0%—73.7%0.41

Other cities in North Carolina (3+ campuses)

Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.

Peer comparison table
City In-state tuition Net price Median debt Completion Enrollment Earnings (10 yr) Working (8 yr)
Greensboro, North Carolina$18,484$16,932$25,80446.0%31,003$46,56685.7%
Raleigh$17,217$22,068$20,00044.8%52,098$49,09185.2%
Charlotte$18,882$21,964$18,00061.3%44,804$57,48184.7%
Wilmington$5,012$20,109$9,50070.6%24,818$54,96785.0%
Wilmington$5,012$20,109$9,50070.6%24,818$54,96785.0%
Chapel Hill$8,994$16,196$10,16691.2%20,950$72,20086.6%
Greenville$7,361$13,617$15,75062.6%19,951$55,14688.4%
Greenville$7,361$13,617$15,75062.6%19,951$55,14688.4%
Greenville$7,361$13,617$15,75062.6%19,951$55,14688.4%
United States$5,512$9,969$13,27150.3%14,468,221$54,38488.0%

Top 5 colleges in Greensboro, North Carolina by graduation rate (150% time)

Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.

  1. Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 57.2%, North Carolina A & T State University

    North Carolina A & T State University

    Public · 12,182 enrolled · Greensboro

  2. Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 56.3%, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    Public · 14,062 enrolled · Greensboro

  3. Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 46.2%, Greensboro College

    Greensboro College

    Private nonprofit · 708 enrolled · Greensboro

  4. Rank 4, Graduation Rate, 45.8%, Guilford College

    Guilford College

    Private nonprofit · 1,001 enrolled · Greensboro

  5. Rank 5, Graduation Rate, 33.3%, Strayer University-North Carolina

    Strayer University-North Carolina

    Private for-profit · 2,671 enrolled · Greensboro

Top 5 colleges in Greensboro, North Carolina by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)

Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.

  1. Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 87.8%, North Carolina A & T State University

    North Carolina A & T State University

    Public · 12,182 enrolled · Greensboro

  2. Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 86.0%, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    Public · 14,062 enrolled · Greensboro

  3. Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 85.7%, Greensboro College

    Greensboro College

    Private nonprofit · 708 enrolled · Greensboro

  4. Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 83.2%, Guilford College

    Guilford College

    Private nonprofit · 1,001 enrolled · Greensboro

  5. Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 81.1%, Strayer University-North Carolina

    Strayer University-North Carolina

    Private for-profit · 2,671 enrolled · Greensboro

Top 4 most selective colleges in Greensboro, North Carolina (lowest admission rate)

Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.

  1. Rank 1, Admission Rate, 49.9%, North Carolina A & T State University

    North Carolina A & T State University

    Public · 12,182 enrolled · Greensboro

  2. Rank 2, Admission Rate, 70.1%, Greensboro College

    Greensboro College

    Private nonprofit · 708 enrolled · Greensboro

  3. Rank 3, Admission Rate, 80.0%, Guilford College

    Guilford College

    Private nonprofit · 1,001 enrolled · Greensboro

  4. Rank 4, Admission Rate, 88.5%, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    Public · 14,062 enrolled · Greensboro

Top 5 colleges in Greensboro, North Carolina by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)

Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.

  1. Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $83,427, North Carolina A & T State University

    North Carolina A & T State University

    Public · 12,182 enrolled · Greensboro

  2. Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $71,167, Strayer University-North Carolina

    Strayer University-North Carolina

    Private for-profit · 2,671 enrolled · Greensboro

  3. Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $68,115, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    Public · 14,062 enrolled · Greensboro

  4. Rank 4, Entry-Level Earnings, $46,497, Guilford College

    Guilford College

    Private nonprofit · 1,001 enrolled · Greensboro

  5. Rank 5, Entry-Level Earnings, $43,963, Greensboro College

    Greensboro College

    Private nonprofit · 708 enrolled · Greensboro

Top 5 colleges in Greensboro, North Carolina by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)

Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.

  1. Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $109,537, North Carolina A & T State University

    North Carolina A & T State University

    Public · 12,182 enrolled · Greensboro

  2. Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $87,413, Strayer University-North Carolina

    Strayer University-North Carolina

    Private for-profit · 2,671 enrolled · Greensboro

  3. Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $86,372, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    Public · 14,062 enrolled · Greensboro

  4. Rank 4, Early-Career Earnings, $67,698, Guilford College

    Guilford College

    Private nonprofit · 1,001 enrolled · Greensboro

  5. Rank 5, Early-Career Earnings, $59,215, Greensboro College

    Greensboro College

    Private nonprofit · 708 enrolled · Greensboro

Top 5 colleges in Greensboro, North Carolina by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)

Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.

  1. Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $40,401, Guilford College

    Guilford College

    Private nonprofit · 1,001 enrolled · Greensboro

  2. Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $39,869, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    Public · 14,062 enrolled · Greensboro

  3. Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $36,638, North Carolina A & T State University

    North Carolina A & T State University

    Public · 12,182 enrolled · Greensboro

  4. Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $36,582, Strayer University-North Carolina

    Strayer University-North Carolina

    Private for-profit · 2,671 enrolled · Greensboro

  5. Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $36,462, Greensboro College

    Greensboro College

    Private nonprofit · 708 enrolled · Greensboro

Top 5 colleges in Greensboro, North Carolina by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)

Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.

  1. Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $44,972, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    Public · 14,062 enrolled · Greensboro

  2. Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $43,270, Greensboro College

    Greensboro College

    Private nonprofit · 708 enrolled · Greensboro

  3. Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $42,478, Guilford College

    Guilford College

    Private nonprofit · 1,001 enrolled · Greensboro

  4. Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $40,737, North Carolina A & T State University

    North Carolina A & T State University

    Public · 12,182 enrolled · Greensboro

  5. Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $37,064, Strayer University-North Carolina

    Strayer University-North Carolina

    Private for-profit · 2,671 enrolled · Greensboro

Top 5 colleges in Greensboro, North Carolina by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)

Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.

  1. Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $48,160, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    Public · 14,062 enrolled · Greensboro

  2. Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $47,590, Guilford College

    Guilford College

    Private nonprofit · 1,001 enrolled · Greensboro

  3. Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $46,566, Greensboro College

    Greensboro College

    Private nonprofit · 708 enrolled · Greensboro

  4. Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $44,440, North Carolina A & T State University

    North Carolina A & T State University

    Public · 12,182 enrolled · Greensboro

  5. Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $40,092, Strayer University-North Carolina

    Strayer University-North Carolina

    Private for-profit · 2,671 enrolled · Greensboro

Top 4 colleges in Greensboro, North Carolina by 10-year ROI

Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.

  1. Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $167,162, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    Public · 14,062 enrolled · Greensboro

  2. Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $148,861, North Carolina A & T State University

    North Carolina A & T State University

    Public · 12,182 enrolled · Greensboro

  3. Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $121,672, Greensboro College

    Greensboro College

    Private nonprofit · 708 enrolled · Greensboro

  4. Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $105,592, Guilford College

    Guilford College

    Private nonprofit · 1,001 enrolled · Greensboro

Top 4 most affordable colleges in Greensboro, North Carolina (net price)

Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.

  1. Rank 1, Net Price, $10,965, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    Public · 14,062 enrolled · Greensboro

  2. Rank 2, Net Price, $10,846, North Carolina A & T State University

    North Carolina A & T State University

    Public · 12,182 enrolled · Greensboro

  3. Rank 3, Net Price, $17,882, Greensboro College

    Greensboro College

    Private nonprofit · 708 enrolled · Greensboro

  4. Rank 4, Net Price, $22,270, Guilford College

    Guilford College

    Private nonprofit · 1,001 enrolled · Greensboro

Top 4 colleges in Greensboro, North Carolina by first-year retention (full-time)

Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.

  1. Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 78.9%, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    Public · 14,062 enrolled · Greensboro

  2. Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 77.5%, North Carolina A & T State University

    North Carolina A & T State University

    Public · 12,182 enrolled · Greensboro

  3. Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 65.9%, Greensboro College

    Greensboro College

    Private nonprofit · 708 enrolled · Greensboro

  4. Rank 4, First-Year Retention, 64.9%, Guilford College

    Guilford College

    Private nonprofit · 1,001 enrolled · Greensboro

In-state tuition: Greensboro, North Carolina vs benchmarks

Sticker price

Greensboro, North Carolina median in-state tuition is $18,484, +235.3% vs the U.S. median.

Student debt: Greensboro, North Carolina vs benchmarks

Borrowing

Median debt at graduation in Greensboro, North Carolina is $25,804 (+94.4% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.

Median earnings (10 years out): Greensboro, North Carolina vs benchmarks

Payoff

Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Greensboro, North Carolina center around $46,566 (-14.4% vs U.S.).

Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.

Employment outcome proxy: Greensboro, North Carolina vs benchmarks

Working & not enrolled

The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 85.7% at the median Greensboro, North Carolina campus (-2.3 pp vs U.S.).

Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).

Analysis & insights

EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.

Costs & borrowing

Greensboro, North Carolina median public in-state tuition is $18,484, about +235.3% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +270.3%.

Median graduate debt is $25,804 (+94.4% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.

Earnings, employment & retention

Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Greensboro, North Carolina are $46,566, about -14.4% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).

The median campus reports 85.7% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-2.3 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.

First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 71.7% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.

Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 7.3% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 51.8% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.

Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include North Carolina A & T State University (87.8%), University of North Carolina at Greensboro (86.0%), Greensboro College (85.7%), Guilford College (83.2%), Strayer University-North Carolina (81.1%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.

Completion & workforce context

Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Greensboro, North Carolina is 46.0% (national institution average about 50.3%).

Frequently Asked Questions

How many colleges are in Greensboro?

This city profile covers 10 campuses in Greensboro, North Carolina with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.

How much does college cost in Greensboro?

Median in-state tuition in Greensboro is $18,484 and median net price is $16,932. For North Carolina overall, medians are $2,613 and $6,820; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.

What do graduates earn in Greensboro?

Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Greensboro is $46,566 vs $47,364 for North Carolina and $54,384 nationally.

What is student debt like for Greensboro colleges?

Median completer debt in Greensboro is $25,804 vs $20,000 for North Carolina and $13,271 nationally.

What are the best colleges in Greensboro?

Top campuses on this page include North Carolina A & T State University (graduation) and University of North Carolina at Greensboro (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.

Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Greensboro?

Among 10 campuses in Greensboro, North Carolina, 2 historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs, IPEDS HBCU flag), including Bennett College and North Carolina A & T State University; 3 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: United Methodist (2), Friends (1).

Sources & related