Public colleges and universities account for almost 75 percent of all undergraduate students in the U.S. The best public colleges in North Carolina provide broad access to reputable degree programs, affordable tuition, and sprawling educational communities.
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.
Public and private colleges and universities operate under different business models. Public colleges and universities are owned by the state and receive both state and federal funding to operate. Private colleges and universities are private companies with private funding. If you’re looking at the pros and cons of private vs. public colleges, consider that many public colleges provide diverse course offerings, influential professors, and an excellent return on your investment.
Public colleges are schools that receive most of their funding from tax revenues. As a result, the cost of a bachelor’s degree at a public university is often lower than the equivalent cost at a private college — especially for students attending a public school in their home state. Attending a college in-state is usually the cheapest option. Private universities and colleges can be very competitive with their funding opportunities, so do not simply believe that private colleges are always going to be more expensive. According to National Center for Educational Statistics, the average annual cost (tuition, fees, room and board for full-time students) at a public university was slightly over $20,000. In contrast, private universities cost, on average, nearly $43,000 annually. But in the end, the cost of college comes down to each student’s academic and financial situation.
This list is composed entirely of public colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 15 public universities in North Carolina. To be included in our list of the best public colleges in North Carolina, shcools must receive direct funding from the state, be fully accredited, and offer a broad range of bachelor’s degress.
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
20%
Graduation
90%
Student body
25K
Median SAT/ACT
1385/30
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
47%
Graduation
84%
Student body
31K
Median SAT/ACT
1320/29
North Carolina State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
66%
Student body
27K
Median SAT/ACT
1195/24
University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
94%
Graduation
66%
Student body
24K
Median SAT/ACT
1095/21
East Carolina University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
58%
Student body
17K
Median SAT/ACT
1070/22
University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
76%
Graduation
51%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
930/17
North Carolina Central University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
73%
Student body
20K
Median SAT/ACT
1155/24
Appalachian State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
57%
Graduation
53%
Student body
12K
Median SAT/ACT
1045/19
North Carolina A&T State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$4K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
61%
Student body
11K
Median SAT/ACT
1120/22
Western Carolina University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
65%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1165/24
University of North Carolina at Asheville’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
68%
Graduation
72%
Student body
16K
Median SAT/ACT
1235/25
University of North Carolina Wilmington’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
37%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
920/18
Fayetteville State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
81%
Graduation
46%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
965/18
Winston-Salem State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$3K
Acceptance
92%
Graduation
43%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1000/19
University of North Carolina at Pembroke’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$3K
Acceptance
77%
Graduation
40%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
920/17
Elizabeth City State 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.
Check out our directory of public colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top public colleges in every state.