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Top North Carolina Colleges

For Students and Parents

For Students & Parents

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

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Appalachian State University

Appalachian State University — Appalachian State University. allygirl520 / Flickr

Location: Boone, North Carolina
Enrollment: 18,295 (16,595 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: public university
Distinctions: 140 major programs; 16 to 1 student/faculty ratio; average class size of 25; excellent value; member of the NCAA Division I Southern Conference
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Appalachian State profile
GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Appalachian State

02

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Davidson College

Davidson College — Davidson College. functoruser / Flickr

Location: Davidson, North Carolina
Enrollment: 1,796 (all undergraduate)
Type of Institution: private liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church
Distinctions: 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 rate
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Davidson College profile
GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Davidson

03

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Duke University

Duke University — Duke University. mricon / Flickr

Location: Durham, North Carolina
Enrollment: 15,735 (6,609 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: private research university
Distinctions: 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 University
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Duke University profile
GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Duke

04

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Elon University

Elon University — Elon University. photo courtesy of Elon University / Office of University Relations

Location: Elon, North Carolina
Enrollment: 6,739 (6,008 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: private university
Explore the Campus: Elon University Photo Tour
Distinctions: 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 profile
GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Elon

05

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Guilford College

Guilford College — Guilford College. Parkram412 / Wikipedia

Location: Greensboro, North Carolina
Enrollment: 1,809 (all undergraduate)
Type of Institution: private liberal arts college with ties to the Quaker Friends
Distinctions: 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 admissions
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Guilford College profile
GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Guilford

06

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High Point University

High Point University — High Point University. Exwhysee / Wikimedia Commons

Location: High Point, North Carolina
Enrollment: 4,837 (4,546 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: private liberal arts college affiliated with the Methodist Church
Explore the Campus: High Point University Photo Tour
Distinctions: 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 Conference
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the High Point University profile
GPA, SAT and ACT graph for High Point

07

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Meredith College

Meredith College — Meredith College. twbuckner / Flickr

Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Enrollment: 1,981 (1,685 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: private liberal arts college for women
Distinctions: 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 aid
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Meredith College profile
GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Meredith

08

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North Carolina State University

NC State University Football — NC State University Football. opus2008 / Flickr

Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Enrollment: 33,755 (23,827 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: public research university
Distinctions: 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 ratio
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the North Carolina State profile
GPA, SAT and ACT graph for North Carolina State

09

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Salem College

Salem College — Salem College. bnhsu / Flickr

Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Enrollment: 1,087 (931 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: private liberal arts college for women
Distinctions: 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 aid
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Salem College profile
GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Salem

10

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UNC Asheville

UNCA - University of North Carolina at Asheville — UNCA - University of North Carolina at Asheville. Marcy Reiford / Flickr

Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Enrollment: 3,821 (3,798 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: public liberal arts college
Distinctions: 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 value
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the UNC Asheville profile
GPA, SAT and ACT graph for UNC Asheville

11

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UNC Chapel Hill

Louis Round Wilson Library at UNC Chapel Hill — Louis Round Wilson Library at UNC Chapel Hill. benuski / Flickr

Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Enrollment: 29,468 (18,522 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: public research university
Explore the campus in this Chapel Hill photo tour
Distinctions: 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 Conference
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the UNC Chapel Hill profile
GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Chapel Hill

12

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UNC School of the Arts

UNCSA - University of North Carolina School of the Arts — UNCSA - University of North Carolina School of the Arts. William Davis / Wikipedia

Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Enrollment: 1,040 (907 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: public conservatory for the arts
Distinctions: Part of the UNC system; well-regarded art school; excellent value; focused conservatory curriculum with specializations in dance, design and production, drama, filmmaking and music
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the UNC School of the Arts profile
GPA, SAT and ACT graph for UNCSA

13

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UNC Wilmington

UNC Wilmington — UNC Wilmington. Aaron / Flickr

Location: Wilmington, North Carolina
Enrollment: 15,740 (13,914 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: public university
Distinctions: 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 Association
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the UNC Wilmington profile
GPA, SAT and ACT graph for UNC Wilmington

14

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Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University — Wake Forest University. Jijithecat / Wikimedia Commons

Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Enrollment: 7,968 (4,955 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: private university
Explore the Campus: Wake Forest photo tour
Distinctions: 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 Conference
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Wake Forest University profile
GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Wake Forest

15

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Warren Wilson College

Warren Wilson College Farm — Warren Wilson College Farm. brightlifephotographydotcom / Flickr

Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Enrollment: 716 (650 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: private liberal arts college with a required work program
Distinctions: 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 ratio
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Warren Wilson College profile
GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Warren Wilson