Best North Carolina Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in North Carolina for 2023

There are 133 colleges and universities in North Carolina enrolling 546,048 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.


133 results

List of the Best North Carolina Colleges

Duke University
D
Durham, NC

Duke University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#1 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 17,620enrollment
  • $26,932net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1468-1558SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

Davidson College
D
Davidson, NC

Davidson College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,973enrollment
  • $28,615net price
  • 18%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 7

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

  • 31,641enrollment
  • $10,038net price
  • 20%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1380SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.83Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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

  • 36,831enrollment
  • $14,600net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1440SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Elon University
E
Elon, NC

Elon University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 7,127enrollment
  • $39,401net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1320SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.65Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

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

  • 1,119enrollment
  • $11,940net price
  • 30%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1380SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15

Queens University of Charlotte
Q
Charlotte, NC

Queens University of Charlotte

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 2,063enrollment
  • $25,756net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1238SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.41Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 7

Meredith College
M
Raleigh, NC

Meredith College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,711enrollment
  • $25,357net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1098-1273SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

University of North Carolina at Wilmington
N
Wilmington, NC

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#9 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 18,030enrollment
  • $17,946net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1330SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.56Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Campbell University
C
Buies Creek, NC

Campbell University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#10 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 5,622enrollment
  • $26,299net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1230SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

University of North Carolina at Asheville
N
Asheville, NC

University of North Carolina at Asheville

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 3,233enrollment
  • $13,854net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1330SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.49Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

University of North Carolina at Charlotte
N
Charlotte, NC

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 30,448enrollment
  • $16,029net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1320SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

Appalachian State University
A
Boone, NC

Appalachian State University

Public 4 Year

7 reviews

#13 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 20,641enrollment
  • $10,687net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1300SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.96Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Catawba College
C
Salisbury, NC

Catawba College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#14 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,207enrollment
  • $18,657net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 990-1150SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Pfeiffer University
P
Misenheimer, NC

Pfeiffer University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#15 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,122enrollment
  • $22,121net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 891-1165SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.18Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Gardner Webb University
G
Boiling Springs, NC

Gardner Webb University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 3,441enrollment
  • $20,363net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 960-1215SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

University of North Carolina at Greensboro
N
Greensboro, NC

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 19,038enrollment
  • $9,853net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1095-1260SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Methodist University
M
Fayetteville, NC
 

Methodist University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,916enrollment
  • $31,730net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1230SAT range
  • 22-26ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA