Resources › For Students and Parents The Best North Carolina Colleges and Universities Share Flipboard Email Print Kagenmi / Getty Images For Students and Parents College Admissions College Rankings College Admissions Process College Profiles Choosing A College Application Tips Essay Samples & Tips Testing Graphs College Financial Aid Extracurricular Activities Advanced Placement Homework Help Private School Test Prep College Life Graduate School Business School Law School Distance Learning View More By Allen Grove College Admissions Expert Ph.D., English, University of Pennsylvania M.A., English, University of Pennsylvania B.S., Materials Science & Engineering and Literature, MIT Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with 20 years of experience helping students transition to college. our editorial process Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter Allen Grove Updated June 01, 2019 North Carolina is a strong state for higher education. From large research universities to small liberal arts colleges, and from urban to rural campuses, North Carolina offers something for everyone. Duke, Davidson, UNC Chapel Hill, and Wake Forest are among the best schools in the country, as well as the most selective and prestigious. The top North Carolina colleges, listed alphabetically, vary greatly in size and mission, but each has undeniable strengths to consider when choosing your institution for higher education. 01 of 15 Appalachian State University allison / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 Location: Boone, North CarolinaEnrollment: 18,295 (16,595 undergraduates)Type of Institution: Public universityDistinctions140 major programs16 to 1 student/faculty ratioAverage class size of 25Excellent valueMember of the NCAA Division I Southern ConferenceAppalachian State GPA, SAT, and ACT data 02 of 15 Davidson College North Carolina Digital Heritage Center / Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Location: Davidson, North CarolinaEnrollment: 1,796 undergraduatesType of Institution: Private liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian ChurchDistinctions10 to 1 student/faculty ratioOne of the country's top liberal arts collegesChapter of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society for strengths in the liberal arts and sciencesDivision I athletic teams compete in the NCAA Atlantic 10 ConferenceHigh retention and graduation rateDavidson GPA, SAT, and ACT data 03 of 15 Duke University Konstantin Ryabitsev Follow / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 Location: Durham, North CarolinaEnrollment: 15,735 (6,609 undergraduates)Type of Institution: Private research universityDistinctionsConsidered one of the country's best universitiesChapter of Phi Beta KappaMembership in the Association of American Universities for strong research programsMember of the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast ConferencePart of the "research triangle" with UNC Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University 04 of 15 Elon University Kevin Oliver / Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Location: Elon, North CarolinaEnrollment: 6,739 (6,008 undergraduates)Type of Institution: Private universityDistinctionsStrong pre-professional programsHigh marks for student engagementAttractive campus a designated botanical gardenMember of the NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic Association (CAA)Elon GPA, SAT, and ACT data 05 of 15 Guilford College Parkram412 / Wikipedia / Public Domain Location: Greensboro, North CarolinaEnrollment: 1,809 undergraduatesType of Institution: Private liberal arts college with ties to the Quaker FriendsDistinctionsFeatured in Loren Pope's well-regarded "Colleges That Change Lives"13 to 1 student/faculty ratioRich history as a station on the Underground RailroadHigh value placed on community, diversity, and justiceTest-optional admissionsGuilford GPA, SAT, and ACT data 06 of 15 High Point University Exwhysee / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain Location: High Point, North CarolinaEnrollment: 4,837 (4,546 undergraduates)Type of Institution: private liberal arts college affiliated with the Methodist ChurchDistinctions15 to 1 student/faculty ratioStudents come from over 40 states and 50 countries$300 million recently dedicated to upgrades and expansionPanthers compete in the NCAA Division I Big South ConferenceHigh Point GPA, SAT, and ACT data 07 of 15 Meredith College -ted / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 Location: Raleigh, North CarolinaEnrollment: 1,981 (1,685 undergraduates)Type of Institution: Private liberal arts college for womenDistinctions12 to 1 student/faculty ratio and average class size of 16Strong experiential learning efforts through internships, co-ops, and other programsOver 90 student clubs and organizationsAttractive 225-acre campusMost students receive grant aidMeredith GPA, SAT, and ACT data 08 of 15 North Carolina State University Jason Horne / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0 Location: Raleigh, North CarolinaEnrollment: 33,755 (23,827 undergraduates)Type of Institution: Public research universityDistinctionsLargest university in North CarolinaChapter of Phi Beta KappaGood valueFounding member of the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference13 to 1 student/faculty ratio 09 of 15 Salem College bnhsu / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 Location: Winston-Salem, North CarolinaEnrollment: 1,087 (931 undergraduates)Type of Institution: Private liberal arts college for womenDistinctionsFounded in 1772Oldest educational institution for women in the country11 to 1 student/faculty ratioHigh placement rates for law and medical schoolsExcellent grant aidSalem College GPA, SAT, and ACT data 10 of 15 UNC Asheville Shad Marsh / Flickr / CC BY-NC 2.0 Location: Asheville, North CarolinaEnrollment: 3,821 (3,798 undergraduates)Type of Institution: Public liberal arts collegeDistinctionsOne of the top public liberal arts colleges in the countryPublic university with a strong undergraduate focusBeautiful location in the Blue Ridge MountainsMember of the NCAA Division I Big South ConferenceGood valueUNC Asheville GPA, SAT, and ACT data 11 of 15 UNC Chapel Hill benuski / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 Location: Chapel Hill, North CarolinaEnrollment: 29,468 (18,522 undergraduates)Type of Institution: Public research universityDistinctionsOne of the country's top public universitiesHome to one of the top undergraduate business schoolsChapter of Phi Beta KappaMembership in the Association of American Universities for strong research programsMember of the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast ConferenceUNC Chapel Hill GPA, SAT, and ACT dataChapel Hill campus photo tour 12 of 15 UNC School of the Arts BSPollard / Getty Images Location: Winston-Salem, North CarolinaEnrollment: 1,040 (907 undergraduates)Type of Institution: Public conservatory for the artsDistinctionsPart of the UNC systemWell-regarded art schoolExcellent valueFocused conservatory curriculum with specializations in dance, design and production, drama, filmmaking, and musicUNCSA GPA, SAT, and ACT data 13 of 15 UNC Wilmington Lance King / Getty Images Location: Wilmington, North CarolinaEnrollment: 15,740 (13,914 undergraduates)Type of Institution: Public universityDistinctionsStrong professional programs in business, education, communications, and nursingExcellent valueLocated just minutes from the Atlantic OceanMember of the NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic AssociationUNC Wilmington GPA, SAT, and ACT data 14 of 15 Wake Forest University DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images Location: Winston-Salem, North CarolinaEnrollment: 7,968 (4,955 undergraduates)Type of Institution: Private universityDistinctionsOne of the more selective universities with test-optional admissionsChapter of Phi Beta KappaSmall classes and low student/faculty ratioMember of the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast ConferenceWake Forest GPA, SAT, and ACT data 15 of 15 Warren Wilson College Theaddeus Stewart / Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Location: Asheville, North CarolinaEnrollment: 716 (650 undergraduates)Type of Institution: Private liberal arts college with a required work programDistinctionsCampus includes a 300-acre farm and 650 acres of forestExcellent choice for outdoor loversStrong environmental studies major"Triad" requirements cover the liberal arts and sciences, the college work program, and community service9 to 1 student/faculty ratioWarren Wilson GPA, SAT, and ACT data Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Grove, Allen. "The Best North Carolina Colleges and Universities." ThoughtCo, Oct. 29, 2020, thoughtco.com/top-north-carolina-colleges-788324. Grove, Allen. (2020, October 29). The Best North Carolina Colleges and Universities. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/top-north-carolina-colleges-788324 Grove, Allen. "The Best North Carolina Colleges and Universities." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/top-north-carolina-colleges-788324 (accessed January 22, 2021). copy citation