North Carolina Private Colleges Ranked by Highest ACT Score

Below is a list of the 31 private colleges in North Carolina with the highest ACT Score for incoming freshmen. Duke University leads the list with an average ACT Score of 34. Alternatively, check out the SAT version of these rankings.

The ACT is a standardized test used by colleges to evaluate applicants. It is not a guarantee of success in college, but it is a strong indicator of academic potential.

List of North Carolina Private Colleges Ranked by Highest ACT Score
College Average ACT Score

Durham, North Carolina

 34

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

 33

Davidson, North Carolina

 32

High Point, North Carolina

 28

Raleigh, North Carolina

 26

Elon, North Carolina

 25

Swannanoa, North Carolina

 25

Fayetteville, North Carolina

 24

Montreat, North Carolina

 24

Raleigh, North Carolina

 24

Banner Elk, North Carolina

 23

Charlotte, North Carolina

 23

Belmont, North Carolina

 22

Buies Creek, North Carolina

 22

Boiling Springs, North Carolina

 22

Wake Forest, North Carolina

 22

Brevard, North Carolina

 21

Salisbury, North Carolina

 21
Search and filter all 31 colleges

This list is updated annually based on the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Last updated: March 15, 2026

Data source: IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025 - National Center for Education Statistics.