Cheapest Criminology Colleges in North Carolina

North Carolina State University at Raleigh delivers the state's most affordable criminology education at just $16,931 net cost while producing graduates who earn $38,289 annually. This earning potential reflects strong demand from North Carolina's expanding Research Triangle law enforcement agencies and Charlotte's financial crime units. The $4,797 gap between NC State and the second cheapest option, Salem College at $18,835, demonstrates how public funding creates substantial savings for criminology students.

Programs

$16,931 – $21,728

Net Price Range

$31,390

Avg. Program Earnings

59.2%

Avg. Graduation Rate

6 Criminology Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, North Carolina	$16,931	$8,895	84.6%	47.2%
2	Salem College Winston-Salem, North Carolina	$18,835	$32,236	56.3%	87.5%
3	University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington, North Carolina	$19,472	$7,317	70.7%	68.8%
4	Johnson C Smith University Charlotte, North Carolina	$20,011	$20,480	34.1%	25.3%
5	Meredith College Raleigh, North Carolina	$20,197	$43,936	65.0%	73.2%
6	William Peace University Raleigh, North Carolina	$21,728	$33,150	44.3%	63.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the $14,000 earnings gap between the highest and lowest-paid graduates?

NC State graduates earn $38,289 compared to Johnson C Smith's $24,035, reflecting differences in program focus and regional job placement. NC State's research connections and Raleigh location provide better access to federal and state law enforcement positions.

How do graduation rates vary among affordable criminology programs?

NC State leads with an 84.60% graduation rate despite being the cheapest option. Johnson C Smith shows only 34.10% completion, while mid-priced UNC Wilmington achieves 70.70%.

Is debt load consistent across these affordable programs?

Average debt ranges from $20,000 at UNC Wilmington to $30,500 at Johnson C Smith University. The private colleges generally require higher borrowing despite similar net costs to public institutions.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.