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North Carolina•In office since 2017•Party: D

Roy Cooper

Serving as Governor of North Carolina since 2017. Evaluation based on verified public data.

Overall GradeA-
79.4 / 100
Ranked #6 of 50 nationally
At a glanceComputed from the data below — no opinions.
  • An overall grade of A- places this governor in the top of the pack nationally — ranked #6 of 50.
  • In office 9 years — current results are fully attributable to this administration.
  • Since taking office, this governor has outpaced the national trend on 10 of 20 tracked metrics, lagged on 3, and moved with the country on 7.
  • Strongest area: Environment (A+). Weakest: Health (C-).
Category

Economy

100
83.8 / 100A
Unemployment Rate
A
3.5%
National avg 3.9%
improving faster than US
Rank 28 of 5046 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 4.7%
Category

Fiscal Health

301
74.0 / 100B+
State Debt per Capita
C+
$1,100
National avg $3,580
improving slower than US
Rank 2 of 5099 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom $1,250
Rainy Day Fund
A+
18.0%
National avg 14.0%
improving faster than US
Rank 14 of 5073 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 8.0%
State & Local Tax Burden
B-
9.9%
National avg 11.2%
declining slower than US
Rank 23 of 5056 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 9.8%
Credit Rating
A+
100
National avg 90
on pace with US
Rank 12 of 5079 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 100
Category

Education

010
43.5 / 100C-
High School Graduation Rate
C-
86.1%
National avg 87.0%
on pace with US
Rank 31 of 5039 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 86.5%
Category

Health

332
43.0 / 100C-
Age-Adjusted Mortality
D+
445 / 100k
National avg 407 / 100k
declining with US
Rank 36 of 5029 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 372 / 100k
Infant Mortality
D+
6.881
National avg 5.628
improving with US
Rank 41 of 5018 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 7.165
Adult Obesity
C+
34.2%
National avg 33.5%
declining slower than US
Rank 26 of 5049 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 30.2%
Adult Smoking
D+
14.9%
National avg 13.2%
improving slower than US
Rank 27 of 5048 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 17.9%
Suicide Rate
B
13 / 100k
National avg 14 / 100k
on pace with US
Rank 11 of 5080 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 13 / 100k
Life Expectancy
D+
76.3 yrs
National avg 77.5 yrs
declining with US
Rank 35 of 5031 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 77.6 yrs
Uninsured Rate (Under 65)
C+
10.5%
National avg 8.6%
improving faster than US
Rank 37 of 5027 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 12.7%
Drug Overdose Death Rate
F
41 / 100k
National avg 34 / 100k
declining faster than US
Rank 38 of 5024 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 22 / 100k
Category

Infrastructure

100
53.2 / 100C+
Bridges in Poor Condition
C+
7.8%
National avg 6.6%
improving faster than US
Rank 38 of 5024 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 8.4%
Category

Opportunity

120
49.3 / 100C
Food Insecurity
B
14.0%
National avg 13.5%
improving faster than US
Rank 36 of 5030 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 15.4%
Poverty Rate
C-
13.1%
National avg 11.5%
improving with US
Rank 36 of 5030 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 14.0%
Median Household Income
D+
$66,186
National avg $74,580
improving with US
Rank 39 of 5022 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom $52,413
Category

Public Safety

010
48.0 / 100C
Violent Crime Rate
C
419 / 100k
National avg 380 / 100k
on pace with US
Rank 34 of 5034 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 419 / 100k
Category

Environment

100
93.1 / 100A+
Drinking Water Violations
A+
22.0%
National avg 44.9%
improving faster than US
Rank 12 of 4977 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 35.0%

How this grade is built

Each metric gets two scores: where the state ranks among all 50 states (30%) and how its pace compared to the national trend during this governor's tenure (70%). Metric scores are averaged within eight equally-weighted pillars — Economy, Fiscal Health, Education, Health, Infrastructure, Opportunity, Public Safety, Environment — then the composite is curved across the cohort so grades spread A–F.

Full methodology →