North Carolina Colleges with high acceptance rates

Colleges with the Highest Acceptance Rate in North Carolina for 2025

These are the least selective public and private four-year colleges in North Carolina. These colleges historically accept more than seventy-five percent of students who apply for admission and are ranked by acceptance rate. These are good safety schools for your college list and you should have a good chance on getting in if your grades and test scores are above or within their typical admission thresholds. Just because a school is less selective doesn't mean it's a lesser school academically and easy to get into for all students. Unless a college has guaranteed admission or accepts 100% of applicants, you still need sufficient grades to be accepted.

Use the filters on this page to narrow down the list based on your high school GPA, SAT and ACT scores. Once you do, your estimated admission chance will be displayed for each school. Additionally, you can filter the list by state, region or distance from your home to narrow down the list of colleges that are easiest for you to get into.

See also, the best and popular North Carolina colleges with high acceptance rates. If you're looking for colleges that have easy admission requirements, explore rankings of North Carolina colleges with the lowest SAT scores, lowest ACT scores and lowest GPA's.
North Carolina High Acceptance % Public Private 4 year

42 results

East Carolina University
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E
Greenville, NC

East Carolina University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

90% Acceptance Rate

#7 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

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

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University of North Carolina at Greensboro
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N
Greensboro, NC

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

90% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 17,743enrollment
  • $10,592net price
  • 1100-1280SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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North Carolina Central University
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N
HBCU
Durham, NC

North Carolina Central University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

90% Acceptance Rate

#15 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 7,965enrollment
  • $13,884net price
  • 980-1100SAT range
  • 17-18ACT range
  • 3.27Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Appalachian State University
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A
Boone, NC

Appalachian State University

Public 4 Year

10 reviews

89% Acceptance Rate

#8 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 21,253enrollment
  • $14,712net price
  • 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

3 reviews

87% Acceptance Rate

#8 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

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

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Salem College
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S
Winston Salem, NC

Salem College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

87% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 519enrollment
  • $19,000net price
  • 1078-1315SAT range
  • 18-27ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

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Western Carolina University
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W
Cullowhee, NC

Western Carolina University

Public 4 Year

10 reviews

87% Acceptance Rate

#10 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 11,628enrollment
  • $12,252net price
  • 1050-1260SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Wingate University
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W
Wingate, NC

Wingate University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

85% Acceptance Rate

#12 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 3,322enrollment
  • $21,464net price
  • 990-1270SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.33Avg GPA

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Guilford College
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G
Greensboro, NC

Guilford College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

84% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

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

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Lees McRae College
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L
Banner Elk, NC
 

Lees McRae College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

81% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 839enrollment
  • $26,009net price
  • 1040-1240SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Lenoir Rhyne University
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L
Hickory, NC

Lenoir Rhyne University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

81% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 2,230enrollment
  • $24,042net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

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Fayetteville State University
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F
HBCU
Fayetteville, NC

Fayetteville State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

80% Acceptance Rate

#16 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 6,847enrollment
  • $7,298net price
  • 855-1045SAT range
  • 15-20ACT range
  • 3.11Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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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

80% Acceptance Rate

#6 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

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

Applications Due Jun 1

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Catawba College
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C
Salisbury, NC

Catawba College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

78% Acceptance Rate

#10 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

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

Applications Due Aug 15

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Mars Hill University
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M
Mars Hill, NC

Mars Hill University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

78% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,049enrollment
  • $19,842net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Mount Olive College
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M
Mount Olive, NC
 

Mount Olive College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

78% Acceptance Rate

#16 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 2,128enrollment
  • $17,893net price
  • 990-1150SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 2.85Avg GPA

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North Carolina Wesleyan College
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N
Rocky Mount, NC
 

North Carolina Wesleyan College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

78% Acceptance Rate

#15 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,345enrollment
  • $19,111net price
  • 860-1120SAT range
  • 15-21ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

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Warren Wilson College
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W
Swannanoa, NC
 

Warren Wilson College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

78% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 797enrollment
  • $27,913net price
  • -SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 3

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