The Best North Carolina Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in North Carolina for 2024

These are the top ranked small, public and private, four-year colleges in North Carolina as ranked by CollegeSimply. These schools all have undergraduate enrollment under 3,000. Small colleges allow students a more intimate and personalized experience where it's more likely you will get to know your professors. Leading the list for 2024 is Davidson College. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
North Carolina small Public Private 4 year

17 results

Davidson College
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D
Davidson, NC

Davidson College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,927enrollment
  • $26,704net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1500SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 7

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Queens University of Charlotte
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Q
Charlotte, NC

Queens University of Charlotte

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,873enrollment
  • $29,459net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1255SAT range
  • 22-29ACT 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

#3 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 1,104enrollment
  • $11,251net price
  • 32%acceptance rate
  • 1115-1350SAT range
  • 22-30ACT 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

#5 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,587enrollment
  • $23,259net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1320SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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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

#5 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 2,914enrollment
  • $14,730net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1145-1340SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.49Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Catawba College
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C
Salisbury, NC

Catawba College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,172enrollment
  • $19,701net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1210SAT range
  • 18-27ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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Pfeiffer University
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P
Misenheimer, NC

Pfeiffer University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,076enrollment
  • $21,575net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 891-1165SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.18Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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Methodist University
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M
Fayetteville, NC
 

Methodist University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,811enrollment
  • $28,129net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1063-1200SAT range
  • 23-26ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

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Guilford College
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G
Greensboro, NC

Guilford College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,167enrollment
  • $23,882net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 910-1180SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.14Avg GPA

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Johnson & Wales University Charlotte
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J
Charlotte, NC
 

Johnson & Wales University Charlotte

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,140enrollment
  • $29,238net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 890-1122SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Belmont Abbey College
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B
Belmont, NC

Belmont Abbey College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,501enrollment
  • $23,522net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 950-1140SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.32Avg 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

#15 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,337enrollment
  • $18,701net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 860-1120SAT range
  • 15-21ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

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Mount Olive College
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M
Mount Olive, NC
 

Mount Olive College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 2,239enrollment
  • $17,878net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 990-1150SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 2.85Avg GPA

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Barton College
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B
Wilson, NC
 

Barton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,265enrollment
  • $23,443net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 970-1150SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.25Avg GPA

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Johnson C Smith University
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J
HBCU
Charlotte, NC

Johnson C Smith University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,093enrollment
  • $20,045net price
  • 25%acceptance rate
  • 800-980SAT range
  • 13-18ACT range
  • 2.48Avg GPA

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Elizabeth City State University
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E
HBCU
Elizabeth City, NC

Elizabeth City State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 2,149enrollment
  • $4,120net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 850-1070SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.16Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 30

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Saint Augustines College
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S
HBCU
Raleigh, NC

Saint Augustines College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,108enrollment
  • $20,081net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 780-940SAT range
  • 12-16ACT range
  • 2.5Avg GPA

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