The Best North Carolina Big Colleges

The Best Large Colleges in North Carolina for 2024

These are the top ranked large, public and private, four-year colleges in North Carolina as ranked by CollegeSimply. These schools all have undergraduate enrollment over 15,000. Leading the list for 2024 is Duke University. Learn how the Best Large Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
North Carolina large Public Private 4 year

8 results

Duke University
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D
Durham, NC

Duke University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in America

  • 18,023enrollment
  • $23,694net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Chapel Hill, NC

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#16 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 31,705enrollment
  • $10,614net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1530SAT 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

#22 Best Public Universities in America

  • 36,700enrollment
  • $14,852net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1460SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 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

#4 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 17,843enrollment
  • $18,709net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1370SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.56Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 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

#6 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 29,551enrollment
  • $13,951net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1290SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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Appalachian State University
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A
Boone, NC

Appalachian State University

Public 4 Year

7 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 20,436enrollment
  • $13,084net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1270SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.96Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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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

#8 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 17,978enrollment
  • $10,979net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1280SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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East Carolina University
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E
Greenville, NC

East Carolina University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 27,151enrollment
  • $14,410net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1170SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.33Avg GPA

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