Best North Carolina Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in North Carolina for 2025

There are 137 colleges and universities in North Carolina enrolling 560,313 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, Wake Forest University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 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

137 results

List of the Best North Carolina Colleges

Duke University
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D
Durham, NC

Duke University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#1 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 17,112enrollment
  • $23,422net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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Davidson College
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D
Davidson, NC

Davidson College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,904enrollment
  • $26,510net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1510SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 7

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Wake Forest University
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W
Winston Salem, NC

Wake Forest University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 9,121enrollment
  • $27,790net price
  • 22%acceptance rate
  • 1390-1510SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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N
Chapel Hill, NC

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 32,234enrollment
  • $11,140net price
  • 19%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1530SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.83Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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North Carolina State University at Raleigh
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N
Raleigh, NC

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#5 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 37,323enrollment
  • $14,860net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Elon University
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E
Elon, NC

Elon University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 7,207enrollment
  • $41,849net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1143-1305SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.65Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

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Queens University of Charlotte
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Q
Charlotte, NC

Queens University of Charlotte

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,846enrollment
  • $27,178net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1300SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.41Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 7

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University of North Carolina School of the Arts
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N
Winston-Salem, NC

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,074enrollment
  • $11,163net price
  • 33%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1350SAT range
  • 24-27ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15

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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

  • 1,576enrollment
  • $23,405net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1260SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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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

5 reviews

#10 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 17,987enrollment
  • $18,606net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1360SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.56Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of North Carolina at Asheville
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N
Asheville, NC

University of North Carolina at Asheville

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 2,925enrollment
  • $14,175net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1350SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.49Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Campbell University
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C
Buies Creek, NC

Campbell University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 5,115enrollment
  • $24,517net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1230SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.52Avg 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

#13 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 30,298enrollment
  • $13,768net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1320SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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East Carolina University
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E
Greenville, NC

East Carolina University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#14 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 26,785enrollment
  • $14,470net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1200SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.33Avg GPA

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Appalachian State University
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A
Boone, NC

Appalachian State University

Public 4 Year

7 reviews

#15 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 21,253enrollment
  • $14,712net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1280SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.96Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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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

  • 3,125enrollment
  • $24,035net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1260SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

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Guilford College
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G
Greensboro, NC

Guilford College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,208enrollment
  • $22,620net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.14Avg GPA

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Catawba College
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C
Salisbury, NC

Catawba College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,241enrollment
  • $18,319net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1186SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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