Best North Carolina Colleges

Ranking top Colleges and Universities in North Carolina for 2021

There are 133 colleges and universities in North Carolina enrolling 551,691 students. Explore the list of top colleges in North Carolina below to begin your college search. The CollegeSimply rankings are objective and data-driven in order to help you find good matches for you. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page. Whether you're searching for a good public, private or community college, this guide to universities in North Carolina offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.

 North Carolina is home to nationally ranked institutions like Duke University, Davidson College, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University at Raleigh. The highest ranked college in North Carolina is Duke University and the top rated public state college is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Local college options can be explored in Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro and Winston-Salem or other cities.

North Carolina Public Private For-Profit 4 year 2 year

133 results found

List of the Best North Carolina Colleges

Duke University
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D
Durham, NC
Duke University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#1 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 16,606enrollment
  • $24,386net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.94*Avg GPA
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Davidson College
D
Davidson, NC
Davidson College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,843enrollment
  • $27,714net price
  • 18%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1485SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA
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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
N
Chapel Hill, NC
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 30,011enrollment
  • $10,085net price
  • 23%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1500SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 4.6Avg GPA
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North Carolina State University at Raleigh
N
Raleigh, NC
North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 35,479enrollment
  • $14,958net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1420SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 4.37Avg GPA
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Elon University
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E
Elon, NC
Elon University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 6,991enrollment
  • $36,564net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1320SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.99Avg GPA
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University of North Carolina School of the Arts
N
Winston-Salem, NC
University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,042enrollment
  • $12,579net price
  • 29%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1290SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA
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Queens University of Charlotte
Q
Charlotte, NC
Queens University of Charlotte

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 2,536enrollment
  • $24,286net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1240SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA
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University of North Carolina at Wilmington
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N
Wilmington, NC
University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 16,747enrollment
  • $17,981net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1320SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 4.06Avg GPA
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Meredith College
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M
Raleigh, NC
Meredith College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,905enrollment
  • $26,958net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1220SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA
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University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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N
Charlotte, NC
University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 29,710enrollment
  • $15,200net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1290SAT range
  • 22-26ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA
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Campbell University
C
Buies Creek, NC
Campbell University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 6,448enrollment
  • $24,015net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1230SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.35*Avg GPA
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University of North Carolina at Asheville
N
Asheville, NC
University of North Carolina at Asheville

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 3,762enrollment
  • $13,388net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1270SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.98Avg GPA
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Appalachian State University
A
Boone, NC
Appalachian State University

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#13 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 19,108enrollment
  • $10,525net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1270SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 4.05Avg GPA
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East Carolina University
E
Greenville, NC
East Carolina University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#14 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 28,718enrollment
  • $13,635net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1190SAT range
  • 20-24ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA
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Pfeiffer University
P
Misenheimer, NC
Pfeiffer University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#15 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,365enrollment
  • $22,340net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 915-1140SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA
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Gardner Webb University
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G
Boiling Springs, NC
Gardner Webb University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 3,598enrollment
  • $21,217net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 970-1180SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA
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Catawba College
C
Salisbury, NC
Catawba College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,294enrollment
  • $18,205net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 930-1120SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 2.36Avg GPA
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Guilford College
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G
Greensboro, NC
Guilford College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,576enrollment
  • $23,738net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 970-1170SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.16Avg GPA
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