Best North Carolina HBCUs
This ranking lists 10 HBCUs in North Carolina, part of a national network of historically Black colleges and universities built to expand access to higher education for Black students and still known for strong community, mentorship, and value.
Leading our 2027 rankings is Winston Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, topping our list in North Carolina. Also highly ranked: North Carolina A & T State University, Elizabeth City State University and Johnson C Smith University.
Compare tuition, enrollment, acceptance rates, and majors across the HBCUs below. Rankings follow the CollegeSimply methodology, blending academics, cost, outcomes, and selectivity. Sort by cost, selectivity, or enrollment to find the school that fits you.
List of HBCUs
Winston Salem State University
- Public 4 Year
- Winston-Salem, NC
-
| 0 reviews
- Feb 15 application deadline
Winston-Salem State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. The urban campus is part of the University of North Carolina system.
- SAT Range 830-1020
- Avg GPA 3.01
- Acceptance Rate 78%
- Net Price $12,989
North Carolina A & T State University
- Public 4 Year
- Greensboro, NC
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
- Jun 1 application deadline
NC A&T is a large public HBCU known for undergraduate engineering and agriculture. The urban campus is in Greensboro.
- SAT Range 1020-1190
- Avg GPA 3.61
- Acceptance Rate 50%
- Net Price $10,097
Elizabeth City State University
- Public 4 Year
- Elizabeth City, NC
-
| 0 reviews
- Jun 30 application deadline
ECSU is a public HBCU known for undergraduate aviation and teacher education. The campus is in the small coastal city of Elizabeth City in northeastern North Carolina.
- SAT Range 920-1080
- Avg GPA 3.16
- Acceptance Rate 64%
- Net Price $6,483
Johnson C Smith University
- Private 4 Year
- Charlotte, NC
-
4.5 | 2 reviews
Johnson C. Smith is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate business, computer science, and social work. The compact urban campus sits in Charlotte's historic West End.
- SAT Range 800-980
- Avg GPA 2.48
- Acceptance Rate 45%
- Net Price $19,705
North Carolina Central University
- Public 4 Year
- Durham, NC
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
NCCU is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and criminal justice. The campus sits in Durham within North Carolina's Research Triangle.
- SAT Range 980-1100
- Avg GPA 3.27
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $14,475
Fayetteville State University
- Public 4 Year
- Fayetteville, NC
-
4.3 | 3 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Fayetteville State is a public university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and business. It is a historically Black university in the University of North Carolina system.
- SAT Range 890-1090
- Avg GPA 3.11
- Acceptance Rate 82%
- Net Price $7,811
Bennett College
- Private 4 Year
- Greensboro, NC
-
| 0 reviews
Bennett is a private historically Black women's college known for undergraduate education, social work, and the liberal arts. The small residential campus in Greensboro is one of only two remaining HBCUs dedicated exclusively to women.
- SAT Range 820-1060
- Predicted Avg GPA 2.74
- Acceptance Rate 51%
- Net Price $26,990
Livingstone College
- Private 4 Year
- Salisbury, NC
-
| 0 reviews
Livingstone is a private historically Black college known for undergraduate education, business, and social work. The residential campus sits in Salisbury in North Carolina's Piedmont region.
- SAT Range 800-960
- Predicted Avg GPA 2.64
- Acceptance Rate 59%
- Net Price $12,826
Saint Augustine's University
- Private 4 Year
- Raleigh, NC
-
| 0 reviews
Saint Augustine's is a private historically Black university with undergraduate programs in business, education, and the sciences. The compact urban campus sits in Raleigh.
- SAT Range 780-940
- Avg GPA 2.5
- Acceptance Rate 34%
- Net Price $19,688
Shaw University
- Private 4 Year
- Raleigh, NC
-
| 0 reviews
- Jul 30 application deadline
Shaw is a private HBCU known for undergraduate business, education, and social work. The urban campus in Raleigh is the oldest historically Black college in the South.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 2.6
- Acceptance Rate 80%
- Net Price $16,445