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 Advanced Placement Homework Help Private School Test Prep College Life Graduate School Business School Law School Distance Learning View More By Allen Grove Allen Grove Facebook Twitter 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 over 20 years of experience helping students transition to college. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on 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 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 Appalachian 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 Carolina Enrollment: 1,796 undergraduates 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 Honor Society for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences Division I athletic teams compete in the NCAA Atlantic 10 Conference High retention and graduation rate Davidson GPA, SAT, and ACT data 03 of 15 Duke University Konstantin Ryabitsev Follow / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 Location: Durham, North Carolina Enrollment: 15,735 (6,609 undergraduates) Type of Institution: Private research university Distinctions Considered one of the country's best universities Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa 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 04 of 15 Elon University Kevin Oliver / Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Location: Elon, North Carolina Enrollment: 6,739 (6,008 undergraduates) Type of Institution: Private university 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) Elon GPA, SAT, and ACT data 05 of 15 Guilford College Parkram412 / Wikipedia / Public Domain Location: Greensboro, North Carolina Enrollment: 1,809 undergraduates 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 Guilford GPA, SAT, and ACT data 06 of 15 High Point University Exwhysee / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain Location: High Point, North Carolina Enrollment: 4,837 (4,546 undergraduates) Type of Institution: private liberal arts college affiliated with the Methodist Church 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 High Point GPA, SAT, and ACT data 07 of 15 Meredith College -ted / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 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 Meredith 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 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 Salem College GPA, SAT, and ACT data 10 of 15 UNC Asheville Shad Marsh / Flickr / CC BY-NC 2.0 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 UNC Asheville GPA, SAT, and ACT data 11 of 15 UNC Chapel Hill benuski / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina Enrollment: 29,468 (18,522 undergraduates) Type of Institution: Public research university Distinctions One of the country's top public universities Home to one of the top undergraduate business schools Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa Membership in the Association of American Universities for strong research programs Member of the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference UNC Chapel Hill GPA, SAT, and ACT data Chapel Hill campus photo tour 12 of 15 UNC School of the Arts BSPollard / Getty Images 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 UNCSA GPA, SAT, and ACT data 13 of 15 UNC Wilmington Lance King / Getty Images 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 UNC Wilmington GPA, SAT, and ACT data 14 of 15 Wake Forest University DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina Enrollment: 7,968 (4,955 undergraduates) Type of Institution: Private university Distinctions One of the more selective universities with test-optional admissions Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa Small classes and low student/faculty ratio Member of the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference Wake Forest GPA, SAT, and ACT data 15 of 15 Warren Wilson College Theaddeus Stewart / Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 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 Warren 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, Jul. 30, 2021, thoughtco.com/top-north-carolina-colleges-788324. Grove, Allen. (2021, July 30). 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 March 22, 2023). copy citation