Resources › For Students and Parents Top North Carolina Colleges Share Flipboard Email Print 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 Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with 20 years of experience helping students transition to college. Updated December 26, 2017 North Carolina is a strong state for higher education. From large research universities to small liberal arts colleges, from urban to rural campuses, North Carolina offers something for everyone. The top North Carolina colleges listed below vary so much in size and mission that I have simply listed them alphabetically rather than force them into any sort of artificial ranking. That said, Duke, Davidson, UNC Chapel Hill and Wake Forest are the most selective and prestigious schools on the list. 01 of 15 Appalachian State University Appalachian State University. allygirl520 / Flickr Location: Boone, North CarolinaEnrollment: 18,295 (16,595 undergraduates)Type of Institution: public universityDistinctions: 140 major programs; 16 to 1 student/faculty ratio; average class size of 25; excellent value; member of the NCAA Division I Southern ConferenceFor acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Appalachian State profileGPA, SAT and ACT graph for Appalachian State 02 of 15 Davidson College Davidson College. functoruser / Flickr Location: Davidson, North CarolinaEnrollment: 1,796 (all undergraduate)Type of Institution: private liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian ChurchDistinctions: 10 to 1 student/faculty ratio; one of the country's top liberal arts colleges; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences; Division I athletic teams compete in the NCAA Atlantic 10 Conference; low student/faculty ratio; high retention and graduation rateFor acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Davidson College profileGPA, SAT and ACT graph for Davidson 03 of 15 Duke University Duke University. mricon / Flickr Location: Durham, North CarolinaEnrollment: 15,735 (6,609 undergraduates)Type of Institution: private research universityDistinctions: One of the country's best universities; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences; membership in the Association of American Universities for strong research programs; member of the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference; part of the "research triangle" with UNC Chapel Hill and North Carolina State UniversityFor acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Duke University profileGPA, SAT and ACT graph for Duke 04 of 15 Elon University Elon University. photo courtesy of Elon University / Office of University Relations Location: Elon, North CarolinaEnrollment: 6,739 (6,008 undergraduates)Type of Institution: private universityExplore the Campus: Elon University Photo TourDistinctions: Strong pre-professional programs; high marks for student engagement; attractive campus a designated botanical garden; member of the NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic Association (CAA)For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Elon University profileGPA, SAT and ACT graph for Elon 05 of 15 Guilford College Guilford College. Parkram412 / Wikipedia Location: Greensboro, North CarolinaEnrollment: 1,809 (all undergraduate)Type of Institution: private liberal arts college with ties to the Quaker FriendsDistinctions: Featured in Loren Pope's well-regarded Colleges That Change Lives; 13 to 1 student/faculty ratio; rich history as a station on the Underground Railroad; high value placed on community, diversity and justice; test-optional admissionsFor acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Guilford College profileGPA, SAT and ACT graph for Guilford 06 of 15 High Point University High Point University. Exwhysee / Wikimedia Commons Location: High Point, North CarolinaEnrollment: 4,837 (4,546 undergraduates)Type of Institution: private liberal arts college affiliated with the Methodist ChurchExplore the Campus: High Point University Photo TourDistinctions: 15 to 1 student/faculty ratio; students come from over 40 states and 50 countries; $300 million recently dedicated to upgrades and expansion; Panthers compete in the NCAA Division I Big South ConferenceFor acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the High Point University profileGPA, SAT and ACT graph for High Point 07 of 15 Meredith College Meredith College. twbuckner / Flickr Location: Raleigh, North CarolinaEnrollment: 1,981 (1,685 undergraduates)Type of Institution: private liberal arts college for womenDistinctions: 12 to 1 student/faculty ratio and average class size of 16; strong experiential learning efforts through internships, co-ops and other programs; over 90 student clubs and organizations; attractive 225-acre campus; most students receive grant aidFor acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Meredith College profileGPA, SAT and ACT graph for Meredith 08 of 15 North Carolina State University NC State University Football. opus2008 / Flickr Location: Raleigh, North CarolinaEnrollment: 33,755 (23,827 undergraduates)Type of Institution: public research universityDistinctions: Largest university in North Carolina; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences; good value; founding member of the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference; 13 to 1 student/faculty ratioFor acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the North Carolina State profileGPA, SAT and ACT graph for North Carolina State 09 of 15 Salem College Salem College. bnhsu / Flickr Location: Winston-Salem, North CarolinaEnrollment: 1,087 (931 undergraduates)Type of Institution: private liberal arts college for womenDistinctions: Founded in 1772; oldest educational institution for women in the country; 11 to 1 student/faculty ratio; high placement rates for law and medical schools; excellent grant aidFor acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Salem College profileGPA, SAT and ACT graph for Salem 10 of 15 UNC Asheville UNCA - University of North Carolina at Asheville. Marcy Reiford / Flickr Location: Asheville, North CarolinaEnrollment: 3,821 (3,798 undergraduates)Type of Institution: public liberal arts collegeDistinctions: One of the top public liberal arts colleges in the country; public university with a strong undergraduate focus; beautiful location in the Blue Ridge Mountains; member of the NCAA Division I Big South Conference; good valueFor acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the UNC Asheville profileGPA, SAT and ACT graph for UNC Asheville 11 of 15 UNC Chapel Hill Louis Round Wilson Library at UNC Chapel Hill. benuski / Flickr Location: Chapel Hill, North CarolinaEnrollment: 29,468 (18,522 undergraduates)Type of Institution: public research universityExplore the campus in this Chapel Hill photo tourDistinctions: One of the country's top public universities; home to one of the top undergraduate business schools; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences; membership in the Association of American Universities for strong research programs; member of the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast ConferenceFor acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the UNC Chapel Hill profileGPA, SAT and ACT graph for Chapel Hill 12 of 15 UNC School of the Arts UNCSA - University of North Carolina School of the Arts. William Davis / Wikipedia Location: Winston-Salem, North CarolinaEnrollment: 1,040 (907 undergraduates)Type of Institution: public conservatory for the artsDistinctions: Part of the UNC system; well-regarded art school; excellent value; focused conservatory curriculum with specializations in dance, design and production, drama, filmmaking and musicFor acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the UNC School of the Arts profileGPA, SAT and ACT graph for UNCSA 13 of 15 UNC Wilmington UNC Wilmington. Aaron / Flickr Location: Wilmington, North CarolinaEnrollment: 15,740 (13,914 undergraduates)Type of Institution: public universityDistinctions: Strong professional programs in business, education, communications and nursing; excellent value; located just minutes from the Atlantic Ocean; member of the NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic AssociationFor acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the UNC Wilmington profileGPA, SAT and ACT graph for UNC Wilmington 14 of 15 Wake Forest University Wake Forest University. Jijithecat / Wikimedia Commons Location: Winston-Salem, North CarolinaEnrollment: 7,968 (4,955 undergraduates)Type of Institution: private universityExplore the Campus: Wake Forest photo tourDistinctions: One of the more selective universities with test-optional admissions; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences; small classes and low student/faculty ratio; member of the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast ConferenceFor acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Wake Forest University profileGPA, SAT and ACT graph for Wake Forest 15 of 15 Warren Wilson College Warren Wilson College Farm. brightlifephotographydotcom / Flickr Location: Asheville, North CarolinaEnrollment: 716 (650 undergraduates)Type of Institution: private liberal arts college with a required work programDistinctions: Campus includes a 300-acre farm and 650 acres of forest; excellent choice for outdoor lovers; strong environmental studies major; "triad" requirements cover the liberal arts and sciences, the college work program, and community service; 9 to 1 student/faculty ratioFor acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Warren Wilson College profileGPA, SAT and ACT graph for Warren Wilson Continue Reading