For prospective college students looking for schools that align with their Christian faith and demonstrate academic excellence, here are the best Christian colleges and universities in North Carolina.
Last year, North Carolina was home to more than 18,000 international students. After all, this state has it all: some of the most beautiful beaches on the east coast, picturesque mountains on the west, lively cities in the central part, and the largest research park in America, the Research Triangle Park.
North Carolina also has a low cost of living, which makes the state one of the top choices for college students.
The state has 53 colleges and universities, including three Tier 1 research universities, and the third largest community college system in the US. It’s no wonder North Carolina’s education institutions award more than 25,000 STEM degrees annually.
While there are many college choices for undergrads and graduate students in North Carolina, some college students prefer to enroll in a Christian college. Aside from offering a great education, why is a Christian college generally a good option for post-secondary education?
Choosing which college to attend is a huge decision. Here are some reasons students opt to attend a Christian college.
A Christian College Helps Grow Your Faith. Attending church services on campus, being exposed to a Christian curriculum, getting access to Christian advisors, and building your Christian worldview through what you learn and are exposed to are all important components of a Christian education.
In most secular colleges, you will be faced with different and opposing worldviews that may not align with your Christian beliefs. Enrolling in a Christian college means your faith-based values are likely incorporated into each class. Better yet, your professors and classmates hold the same spiritual values that you do.
A Christian college will also offer majors that may not be available in secular colleges, such as those focused on ministry or Christian counseling. If you want to pursue a career in a Christian field, attending a top-ranked Christian college in North Carolina is a great choice.
Among these schools are over 60 public colleges and universities, including the state’s largest school, North Carolina State University, which serves almost 30,000 students. Tuition costs average about $9,000, just below the national average, and students also have the option to enroll in over 1,000 online courses. Another notable public school is the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which is one of the country’s oldest universities.
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The 25,000 students who attend UNC will walk the same halls as Francis Collins, Thomas Wolfe, and former president James K. Polk. North Carolina’s private schools have also made a name for themselves, including the well-known Duke University located in Durham. Here, students can earn degrees in some of the top programs, like nursing, political science, and business. Additionally, students can attend one of the many small schools which serve less than 5,000 students, like Campbell University in Buies Creek, or a religiously affiliated school, like Mid-Atlantic Christian University in Elizabeth City.
From its coastal beaches to its lush forests, it’s no wonder the Wright Brothers dreamed of taking flight over North Carolina. This state is rich with history, scenic views, and famous people who once called it home, like John Coltrane and Nicholas Sparks. Students hoping to earn their associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree also have the option of choosing from over 100 schools in the Tar Heel State.
Whether you prefer ocean views or wooded forests, North Carolina has something for everyone. Discover more about the state’s higher learning options.
The following list of the best Christian schools consists entirely of colleges and universities that offer four-year undergraduate degrees. We’ve identified 24 Christian colleges in North Carolina. In order to be included in this ranking list of best Christian colleges and universities, a school must self-identify as Christian, be fully accredited, and offer a broad range of bachelor degree programs.
Tuition + fees
$60K
Acceptance
6%
Graduation
96%
Student body
14K
Median SAT/ACT
1520/34
Duke University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
18%
Graduation
90%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1380/31
Davidson College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$38K
Acceptance
87%
Graduation
56%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1110/22
Campbell University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$40K
Acceptance
80%
Graduation
70%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1155/25
High Point University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$16K
Acceptance
65%
Graduation
16%
Student body
1K
Shaw University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$39K
Acceptance
69%
Graduation
64%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1135/23
Queens University of Charlotte’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$41K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
55%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1050/20
Guilford College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$31K
Acceptance
90%
Graduation
67%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1076/20
Salem College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$19K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
22%
Student body
<1K
Bennett College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$19K
Acceptance
99%
Graduation
46%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1075/21
Belmont Abbey College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$19K
Acceptance
88%
Graduation
30%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1000/19
Greensboro College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$23K
Acceptance
83%
Graduation
47%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1005/19
University of Mount Olive’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$18K
Acceptance
51%
Graduation
23%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
850/14
Livingstone College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$29K
Acceptance
90%
Graduation
29%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1025/20
Montreat College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$33K
Acceptance
28%
Graduation
40%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
915/17
North Carolina Wesleyan University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$33K
Acceptance
99%
Graduation
52%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1025/19
Barton College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$30K
Acceptance
45%
Graduation
32%
Student body
<1K
Brevard College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$32K
Acceptance
72%
Graduation
34%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1020/18
Pfeiffer University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$32K
Acceptance
52%
Graduation
42%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1040/20
William Peace University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$32K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
48%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1052/21
Gardner–Webb University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$29K
Acceptance
12%
Graduation
31%
Student body
<1K
St. Andrews University ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$37K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
37%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1035/20
Methodist University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$42K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
48%
Student body
3K
Lenoir–Rhyne University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$26K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
29%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
895/15
Chowan University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$28K
Acceptance
59%
Graduation
40%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1051/21
Lees–McRae College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$17K
Acceptance
75%
Graduation
22%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
860/14
St. Augustine's University ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.