Classy choices: North Carolina's college system is as diverse as it is large, from a school founded for American Indians to its flagship campus in Chapel Hill.

• Author: Martin, Cathy
• Position: NORTH CAROLINA HIGHER EDUCATION

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For many North Carolinians, spring beckons backyard barbecues, a new attempt to master golf or relaxing on boats and beaches. It's less of a kick for many high-school juniors and seniors, who spend the season taking Advanced Placement and SAT exams and a whirlwind of college-campus tours. Luckily, the state provides a bounty of options for the education-minded, bolstering the economy.

Higher education in North Carolina created the equivalent of more than 1 million jobs and $63.5 billion in income in 2012-13, about 15% of the total gross state product, according to a 2015 report by Economic Modeling Specialists International. (The total includes hospitals and other medical operations.) More than 386,000 people are enrolled at the state's postsecondary schools. Members of its 17-campus public system are consistently ranked among the best values of U.S. colleges, and its large research universities attract global talent. Independent schools, which accounted for nearly a quarter of students in 2014-15, had a statewide economic impact of $14.2 billion while the 58-campus community-college system added $21.5 billion in state income in...