North Carolina’s Best Colleges and Universities of 2021
Here are the best colleges and universities in North Carolina. Our list will help you find the right kind of school for you.
Colleges and Universities in North Carolina
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.
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. The 25,000 students who attend this school 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.
Whether you prefer ocean views or wooded forests, North Carolina has something for everyone. Discover more about the state’s higher learning options.
What are North Carolina’s Colleges & Universities?
- 13 Research Universities
- 36 Liberal Arts Colleges & Universities
- 16 Graduate Schools
- 15 Public Colleges & Universities
- 34 Private Colleges & Universities
- 26 Christian Colleges & Universities
- 33 Small Colleges & Universities (fewer than 5,000 students)
- 16 Affordable Colleges (below 16,000k/yr)
- 47 Community Colleges
North Carolina’s Best Overall
Related: Differences between research universities and teaching colleges
How do we determine North Carolina's best colleges and universities?
The best colleges pound for pound!
The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why, at the undergraduate level, we rank the best colleges and universities based on what we call Concentrated Influence.
Concentrated Influence takes the combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers (including faculty and alums) and divides it by the school’s total number of undergraduates.
Using concentrated influence gives small and mid-sized schools an opportunity to shine by taking away the size advantage of larger universities. A small school with proportionately more influential faculty than a large school, whose influence in absolute terms may be bigger, will nonetheless score higher in a concentrated influence ranking. Our approach highlights undergraduate schools that truly rank for excellence, regardless of size.
If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence.
Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.
Find out more about our ranking methodology here.
Every fall, more than 2 million high-school graduates will enroll in colleges and universities across the United States. Finding the best college for your educational, personal, and professional goals may be challenging. The purpose of this ranking is to help you manage this challenge with an accurate, objective, and up-to-date ranking of the best colleges and universities in North Carolina for earning a bachelor’s degree.
We’ve identified a total of 49 colleges and universities in North Carolina, 25 of which meet our criteria. The list below of the best schools in the state focuses on those that offer four-year undergraduate degrees, includes both public and private colleges and universities, and also meet the following two conditions:
- It must be fully accredited.
- It must have a graduation rate of greater than 50%.
25 Best Colleges & Universities in North Carolina
- #1Duke University#31 institution's overall influence#12 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
95%
Student body
15K
Median SAT/ACT
1510/34
Durham, NCView profile
What is Duke University known for?
Duke University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Religious Studies
- Nursing
- Earth Sciences
- Medical
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Law
- Philosophy
- Biology
- Business
Most Influential Alumni
- #2University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill#75 institution's overall influence#38 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
23%
Graduation
91%
Student body
25K
Median SAT/ACT
1375/31
Chapel Hill, NCView profile
What is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill known for?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- History
- Law
- Political Science
- Business
- Communications
- Mathematics
- Chemistry
- Nursing
- Religious Studies
- Education
Most Influential Alumni
- #3Wake Forest University#474 institution's overall influence#48 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$53K
Acceptance
29%
Graduation
88%
Student body
7K
Winston-Salem, NCView profile
What is Wake Forest University known for?
Wake Forest University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Medical
- Business
- Law
- History
- Literature
- Communications
- Political Science
- Mathematics
- Education
- Engineering
Most Influential Alumni
- #4Davidson College#865 institution's overall influence#36 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$51K
Acceptance
19%
Graduation
93%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1370/31
Davidson, NCView profile
What is Davidson College known for?
Davidson College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Political Science
- Physics
- Literature
- Psychology
- History
- Sociology
- Anthropology
- Economics
- Biology
- Computer Science
Most Influential Alumni
- #5North Carolina State University#196 institution's overall influence#176 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
47%
Graduation
78%
Student body
30K
Median SAT/ACT
1320/29
Raleigh, NCView profile
What is North Carolina State University known for?
North Carolina State University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Engineering
- Physics
- Biology
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Chemistry
- Business
- History
- Economics
- Communications
Most Influential Alumni
- #6Guilford College#1302 institution's overall influence#343 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$37K
Acceptance
64%
Graduation
61%
Student body
2K
Greensboro, NCView profile
What is Guilford College known for?
Guilford College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Sociology
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Religious Studies
- Medical
- Business
- Computer Science
- Philosophy
- Biology
- Education
Most Influential Alumni
- #7Warren Wilson College#2649 institution's overall influence#374 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$36K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
51%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1212/24
Swannanoa, NCView profile
What is Warren Wilson College known for?
Warren Wilson College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Religious Studies
- Biology
- Sociology
- History
- Social Work
Most Influential Alumni
- #8Queens University of Charlotte#2308 institution's overall influence#431 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$35K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
53%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1125/23
Charlotte, NCView profile
What is Queens University of Charlotte known for?
Queens University of Charlotte's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
- Sociology
- Chemistry
- Philosophy
- Nursing
- Biology
- History
- Political Science
Most Influential Alumni
- #9Appalachian State University#769 institution's overall influence#1467 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
69%
Graduation
72%
Student body
19K
Median SAT/ACT
1185/25
Boone, NCView profile
What is Appalachian State University known for?
Appalachian State University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Mathematics
- Communications
- Economics
- Criminal Justice
- Anthropology
- History
- Earth Sciences
- Political Science
- Medical
- Education
Most Influential Alumni
- #10Catawba College#3021 institution's overall influence#893 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$31K
Acceptance
52%
Graduation
52%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1025/21
Salisbury, NCView profile
What is Catawba College known for?
Catawba College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Sociology
- Criminal Justice
- Religious Studies
- Political Science
- History
- Communications
- Education
- Medical
Most Influential Alumni
- #11Johnson C. Smith University#2219 institution's overall influence#570 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$18K
Acceptance
46%
Graduation
51%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
895/16
Charlotte, NCView profile
What is Johnson C. Smith University known for?
Johnson C. Smith University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Social Work
- Mathematics
- Sociology
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Medical
- Political Science
- Communications
- History
Most Influential Alumni
- #12University of North Carolina at Charlotte#818 institution's overall influence#1385 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
67%
Graduation
57%
Student body
26K
Median SAT/ACT
1195/24
Charlotte, NCView profile
What is University of North Carolina at Charlotte known for?
University of North Carolina at Charlotte's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Anthropology
- Religious Studies
- Mathematics
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Sociology
- History
- Psychology
- Economics
- Business
Most Influential Alumni
- #13Elon University#1815 institution's overall influence#1234 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$35K
Acceptance
72%
Graduation
82%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1240/27
Elon, NCView profile
What is Elon University known for?
Elon University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Communications
- Religious Studies
- Philosophy
- History
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Political Science
- Business
- Law
- Chemistry
Most Influential Alumni
- #14East Carolina University#765 institution's overall influence#1186 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
61%
Student body
26K
Median SAT/ACT
1115/22
Greenville, NCView profile
What is East Carolina University known for?
East Carolina University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Nursing
- Medical
- Social Work
- History
- Political Science
- Biology
- Criminal Justice
- Education
- Psychology
- Computer Science
Most Influential Alumni
- #15University of North Carolina at Greensboro#712 institution's overall influence#1364 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
54%
Student body
18K
Median SAT/ACT
1075/22
Greensboro, NCView profile
What is University of North Carolina at Greensboro known for?
University of North Carolina at Greensboro's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Nursing
- Literature
- Sociology
- Education
- Psychology
- Chemistry
- Economics
- Mathematics
- Biology
- History
Most Influential Alumni
- #16Campbell University#1825 institution's overall influence#486 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$33K
Acceptance
76%
Graduation
55%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1120/22
Buies Creek, NCView profile
What is Campbell University known for?
Campbell University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Nursing
- Law
- History
- Economics
- Engineering
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Social Work
- Medical
- Education
Most Influential Alumni
- #17Salem College#2756 institution's overall influence#989 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$29K
Acceptance
39%
Graduation
57%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1155/24
Winston-Salem, NCView profile
What is Salem College known for?
Salem College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Education
- Psychology
- Chemistry
- Literature
- Economics
- Sociology
- Communications
- History
- Mathematics
- Criminal Justice
Most Influential Alumni
- #18High Point University#2103 institution's overall influence#312 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$35K
Acceptance
77%
Graduation
64%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1170/24
High Point, NCView profile
What is High Point University known for?
High Point University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Anthropology
- Political Science
- Economics
- History
- Criminal Justice
- Business
- Education
- Sociology
- Computer Science
- Medical
Most Influential Alumni
- #19University of North Carolina at Asheville#2929 institution's overall influence#555 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
94%
Graduation
62%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1155/24
Asheville, NCView profile
What is University of North Carolina at Asheville known for?
University of North Carolina at Asheville's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Mathematics
- Psychology
- Sociology
- History
- Religious Studies
- Engineering
- Anthropology
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Political Science
Most Influential Alumni
- #20Meredith College#2967 institution's overall influence#1109 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$37K
Acceptance
63%
Graduation
61%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1100/22
Raleigh, NCView profile
What is Meredith College known for?
Meredith College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Sociology
- Mathematics
- Social Work
- Political Science
- Education
- Computer Science
- Literature
- Chemistry
- Business
- Biology
Most Influential Alumni
- #21Western Carolina University#2077 institution's overall influence#632 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$4K
Acceptance
40%
Graduation
57%
Student body
10K
Median SAT/ACT
1120/22
Cullowhee, NCView profile
What is Western Carolina University known for?
Western Carolina University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Nursing
- Anthropology
- Literature
- History
- Social Work
- Medical
- Criminal Justice
- Education
- Business
- Biology
Most Influential Alumni
- #22University of North Carolina Wilmington#2329 institution's overall influence#1260 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
61%
Graduation
72%
Student body
15K
Median SAT/ACT
1255/25
Wilmington, NCView profile
What is University of North Carolina Wilmington known for?
University of North Carolina Wilmington's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Social Work
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Computer Science
- History
- Psychology
- Anthropology
- Communications
- Literature
- Sociology
Most Influential Alumni
- #23Barton College#2904 institution's overall influence#1425 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$31K
Acceptance
40%
Graduation
52%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1020/20
Wilson, NCView profile
What is Barton College known for?
Barton College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Business
- Chemistry
- Medical
- History
- Communications
- Social Work
- Education
- Criminal Justice
- Nursing
Most Influential Alumni
- #24Wingate University#7478 institution's overall influence#1100 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$33K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
54%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1075/21
Wingate, NCView profile
What is Wingate University known for?
Wingate University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Religious Studies
- Social Work
- Criminal Justice
- Nursing
- Education
- Communications
- History
- Medical
Most Influential Alumni
- #25University of Mount Olive#8555 institution's overall influence#1147 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$21K
Acceptance
53%
Graduation
51%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1017/19
Mount Olive, NCView profile
What is University of Mount Olive known for?
University of Mount Olive's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Religious Studies
- Mathematics
- Criminal Justice
- History
- Education
- Business
Most Influential Alumni
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