North Carolina’s Best Colleges and Universities of 2021

Colleges and Universities in North Carolina

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 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.

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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.

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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:

1. It must be fully accredited.
2. It must have a graduation rate of greater than 50%.

25 Best Colleges & Universities in North Carolina

1. 

   #1

   Duke 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, NC

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   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

   • David G. Bromley
   • Charlie Rose
   • John W. Campbell
   • Ken Wilber
   • Jerome Bruner
   • Tim Cook
   • James E. Boyd
   • Russell Kirk
   • William Styron
   • Richard B. Spencer
   • Fred Brooks
   • Anne Tyler
2. 

   #2

   University 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, NC

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   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

   • Howard T. Odum
   • James K. Polk
   • Francis Collins
   • Walker Percy
   • Richard Lenski
   • Thomas Wolfe
   • Lawrence Ferlinghetti
   • Lewis Binford
   • James Surowiecki
   • Leonard J. Arrington
   • Jeffrey Beall
   • David Brinkley
3. 

   #3

   Wake Forest University

   #474 institution's overall influence

   #48 overall school desirability

   Tuition + fees

   $53K

   Acceptance

   29%

   Graduation

   88%

   Student body

   7K

   Winston-Salem, NC

   View 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

   • Arnold Palmer
   • Harold Hayes
   • Al Hunt
   • Will D. Campbell
   • Thomas Dixon Jr.
   • Melissa Harris-Perry
   • Carroll O'Connor
   • Jerry Punch
   • Frank A. Armstrong
   • Thomas Marshburn
   • Chris Paul
   • Charlie Ergen
4. 

   #4

   Davidson 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, NC

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   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

   • William Styron
   • David Talmage
   • Patricia Cornwell
   • William Andrew Moffett
   • Thomas W. Ross
   • William Eskridge
   • Glenn Terrell
   • Thomas Marshburn
   • Jennings Bryant
   • R. S. Gwynn
   • Michael Munger
   • William Walter Wilkins
5. 

   #5

   North 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, NC

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   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

   • Munir Ahmad Khan
   • Tomoko Ohta
   • Roy Hampton Park
   • Rajendra K. Pachauri
   • Hugh Shelton
   • Christina Koch
   • Zach Galifianakis
   • Salim Mehmud
   • Raymond T. Odierno
   • Kij Johnson
   • Lara Trump
   • William C. Lee
6. 

   #6

   Guilford College

   #1302 institution's overall influence

   #343 overall school desirability

   Tuition + fees

   $37K

   Acceptance

   64%

   Graduation

   61%

   Student body

   2K

   Greensboro, NC

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   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

   • Doc Searls
   • James Childress
   • Warren Mitofsky
   • William Hines
   • Big Jack Armstrong
   • Christopher Benfey
   • James Beverly
   • Miriam Leiva
   • D. H. Starbuck
   • William Queen
   • Virginia Ragsdale
   • Stephanie Moller
7. 

   #7

   Warren 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, NC

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   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

   • Catherine Barnett
   • Joe Wenderoth
   • David Wroblewski
   • Matthew Olzmann
   • Doreen Gildroy
   • Martha Rhodes
   • Adrian Blevins
   • Tiana Nobile
   • Chris Llewellyn
   • Bart Bellairs
   • Hieu Minh Nguyen
   • Donna Gershten
8. 

   #8

   Queens 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, NC

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   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

   • Chuck Wendig
   • William Polk
   • John Schwert
   • Carlos Andrade
   • Ross Yockey
9. 

   #9

   Appalachian 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, NC

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   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

   • David Weber
   • Stephen J. Dubner
   • Brock Long
   • Franklin Graham
   • Charles Frazier
   • Charlotte Flair
   • Steven M. Greer
   • James Emery White
   • Anna J. Phillips
   • Robert Allen Phillips
   • Mary Ellen Snodgrass
   • Eric Bachmann
10. 

    #10

    Catawba 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, NC

    View 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

    • Matthew Shepard
    • Kim Voss
    • Bob Clark
    • William L. Swing
    • Jasika Nicole
    • Wilson Warlick
    • Phil Kirk
    • Dave Robbins
    • Bill Wilhelm
    • John Hostetter
    • Charlie Coiner
    • Bucky Pope
11. 

    #11

    Johnson 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, NC

    View 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

    • Edward R. Dudley
    • Melanie Harrison Okoro
    • Monica Simpson
    • Reginald Hawkins
    • Clarence F. Stephens
    • Dorothy Counts
    • Grover Covington
    • Faya Ora Rose Touré
    • Sadye Curry
    • Sandra L. Townes
    • Jawn Sandifer
    • Trezzvant Anderson
12. 

    #12

    University 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, NC

    View 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

    • Matt Hardy
    • Matthew Michalewicz
    • Gregg Henriques
    • Benjamin Chavis
    • Vani Hari
    • Caridad Svich
    • Nicole Atkins
    • Cedric Maxwell
    • Clyde Caldwell
    • Malek Jandali
    • Joey Coulter
    • Glenda Gilmore
13. 

    #13

    Elon 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, NC

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    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

    • William E. Gortney
    • Rich Blomquist
    • Wes Durham
    • Lexie Fyfe
    • Grant Gustin
    • James S. Denton
    • Chris Wood
    • Deborah Yow
    • Eugene McDaniel
    • Reno Collier
    • Taylor Trensch
    • Yasmine Arrington
14. 

    #14

    East 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, NC

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    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

    • Vince McMahon
    • Sandra Bullock
    • Rick Atkinson
    • John A. Allison IV
    • Kevin Williamson
    • David D. Ginty
    • Emily Procter
    • Mary Robinette Kowal
    • Nia Franklin
    • Beth Grant
    • Dan Neil
    • Scott Avett
15. 

    #15

    University 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, NC

    View 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

    • Kelly Link
    • Robert Morgan
    • Claudia Emerson
    • Camille Dungy
    • DaBaby
    • Terry Sullivan
    • Phyllis Birkby
    • Eleanor Ross Taylor
    • Norman B. Anderson
    • Matthew Hughey
    • Greg Campbell
    • Beth Leavel
16. 

    #16

    Campbell 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, NC

    View 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

    • Paul Green
    • Don Brown
    • Norman Adrian Wiggins
    • Low Ngai Yuen
    • Eugene McDaniel
    • Kristin Cooper
    • Meg Scott Phipps
    • Stuart Couch
    • John M. Tyson
    • Frank Antenori
    • Clay Aiken
    • Kenneth L. Hardison
17. 

    #17

    Salem 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, NC

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    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

    • Hugh Aynesworth
    • Celia Weston
    • Carl D. Keith
    • Michael B. Surbaugh
    • Fritz Coleman
    • Cashavelly Morrison
    • Meribeth Dayme
    • April Coan
    • William J. Powell
18. 

    #18

    High 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, NC

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    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

    • Austin Dillon
    • Robert R. Merhige, Jr.
    • Nido Qubein
    • Charles F. Price
    • Harold P. Hamilton
    • Steve Brown
    • Scott Harvey
    • Debbie Leonard
19. 

    #19

    University 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, NC

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    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

    • Wilma Dykeman
    • Ty Wigginton
    • Princess Sophie of Romania
    • Jason Faunt
    • Sarah Addison Allen
    • Autumn Kent
    • Anne-Marie Baiynd
    • Timothy Lee Barnwell
    • Matthew Golombisky
    • Molly Burch
    • Tony Campana
    • Topper Shutt
20. 

    #20

    Meredith 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, NC

    View 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

    • Beth Leavel
    • Roxie Collie Laybourne
    • Sarah Parker
    • Susan Hill
    • Ruth Dial Woods
    • Jenna Pittman Bracone
    • Addie Elizabeth Davis
    • Patricia N. Willoughby
    • Rachel Hinrichs
21. 

    #21

    Western 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, NC

    View 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

    • David Sedaris
    • Jason Bond
    • Rich Hall
    • Percy Watson
    • Mark Martin
    • Geoff Collins
    • Kevin Martin
    • David Joy
    • Carol Fowler Durham
    • Juanita Moody
    • Rachel Reilly
    • Todd Fuller
22. 

    #22

    University 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, NC

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    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

    • Skeet Ulrich
    • Jill Mikucki
    • David Harpp
    • Scott Dawson
    • Joshua Poteat
    • David Riggs
    • Terry Schappert
    • Derek Nikitas
    • Lavonne J. Adams
    • Carl Willis
    • Brad Knighton
    • Karen F. Parker
23. 

    #23

    Barton 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, NC

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    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

    • Ava Gardner
    • Naomi E. Morris
    • Thomas Albert
24. 

    #24

    Wingate 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, NC

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    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

    • Rohit Gupta
    • Lorinza Harrington
    • Charlie Machell
25. 

    #25

    University 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, NC

    View 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

    • Justin Melton

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