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Best Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina

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2023 Best Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina

19 Schools Ranked
$19,104 Avg Student Debt

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.

The Best Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina ranking is one of many tools that Grad Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 19 schools in North Carolina to see which graduate certificate programs offered the best educational experiences for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina
$59,141 Average Tuition & Fees
$17,440 Avg Student Debt

Our analysis found Duke University to be the best school for students who want to pursue a graduate certificate in North Carolina.

By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,440 in student loans.

Duke does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 2% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full Duke University Report

#2

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
$11,703 Average Tuition & Fees
$18,885 Avg Student Debt

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend North Carolina State University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina list.

Graduate Certificate recipients from NC State accumulate an average of $18,885 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

NC State does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 78% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#3

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
$39,240 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Wake Forest University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina list.

Wake Forest University does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 67% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Wake Forest University

#4

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, North Carolina
$7,713 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina list.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UNC Charlotte. In fact, around 82% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full University of North Carolina at Charlotte Report

#5

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina
$8,007 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Appalachian State University is a great place for students working on their graduate certificate.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Appalachian State. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 86% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#6

East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina
$7,594 Average Tuition & Fees

East Carolina University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since ECU does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 80% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#7

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
$12,566 Average Tuition & Fees
$16,691 Avg Student Debt

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina ranking.

By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,691 in student loans.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UNC Chapel Hill. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 77% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Report

#8

Pfeiffer University

Misenheimer, North Carolina

Pfeiffer University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #8 on the list.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Pfeiffer University does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 70% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#9

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Wilmington, North Carolina
$7,514 Average Tuition & Fees

University of North Carolina at Wilmington came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina ranking.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at UNCW. During the 2019-2020 year, about 88% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#10

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina
$8,265 Average Tuition & Fees

University of North Carolina at Greensboro landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs.

UNC Greensboro does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 80% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on University of North Carolina at Greensboro

#11

Wingate University

Wingate, North Carolina

Wingate University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs.

One thing to take note of is that Wingate does offer online graduate classes in some areas. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 18% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Wingate University

#12

Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte, North Carolina
$14,166 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #12, Queens University of Charlotte did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Queens. In fact, around 100% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full Queens University of Charlotte Report

#13

Winston - Salem State University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
$6,718 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #13, Winston - Salem State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since WSSU does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 89% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Winston - Salem State University

#14

Gardner - Webb University

Boiling Springs, North Carolina
$10,130 Average Tuition & Fees

Gardner - Webb University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina list.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Gardner - Webb. In 2019-2020 about 59% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Gardner - Webb University

#15

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, North Carolina
$7,480 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #15, Western Carolina University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at WCU. During the 2019-2020 year, about 87% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Western Carolina University

#16

North Carolina A & T State University

Greensboro, North Carolina
$7,938 Average Tuition & Fees

North Carolina A & T State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #16 on the list.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since NC A&T does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In fact, around 82% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full North Carolina A & T State University Report

#17

Strayer University - North Carolina

Morrisville, North Carolina
$15,135 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #17, Strayer University - North Carolina did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate.

Since the graduate programs at Strayer University - North Carolina are online, the school is an excellent choice for graduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.

Read More…

#18

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville, North Carolina
$5,835 Average Tuition & Fees

Fayetteville State University landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs.

Fayetteville State University does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 89% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Fayetteville State University

#19

Methodist University

Fayetteville, North Carolina
$41,428 Average Tuition & Fees

Methodist University landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs.

Full Methodist University Report

View Best Graduate Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 19 schools only.

References

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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