GPA, SAT and ACT Data for Top North Carolina Colleges

North Carolina has some impressive options for higher education, and the admissions standards for places like Duke and UNC Chapel Hill can be daunting. Most top-ranking schools have holistic admissions, so the final admissions decision takes into consideration things like your extracurricular involvement and application essay.

That said, you're going to need high grades and strong test scores to get into most of the schools on this list. To see if you're on target for admission to some of North Carolina's top colleges, follow the links in the list below: 

Appalachian State University

Roughly two-thirds of applicants are admitted, and most have grades of a "B" or higher and standardized test scores that are average or better.

• GPA-SAT-ACT Graph for Appalachian State Admission

Davidson College

Fewer than a quarter of all applicants to Davidson will be admitted, and nearly all successful applicants had grades in the "A" range and above average standardized test scores.

• GPA-SAT-ACT Graph for Davidson College Admission

Duke University

Duke consistently makes my list of the country's most selective colleges. You'd better have high grades and standardized test scores if you want your application to be taken seriously. In 2015, just 11% of applicants were admitted.

• GPA-SAT-ACT Graph for Duke University Admission

Elon University

Elon admits about half of its applicants. Most admitted students have grades in the B+ range or higher and SAT/ACT scores that are at least a little above average.

• GPA-SAT-ACT Graph for Elon University Admission

Guilford College

About a third of applicants to Guilford are rejected. The school has test-optional admissions, so don't worry if your SAT or ACT scores aren't ideal. You will need a high school record that demonstrates your college preparedness.

• GPA-SAT-ACT Graph for Guilford College Admission

High Point University

High Point University is one of the less selective schools on this list, but you'll still need solid grades and test scores to be admitted. A little over a quarter of all applicants are not admitted.

• GPA-SAT-ACT Graph for High Point University Admission

Meredith College

This women's college admits about 60% of applicants. Most women who get in have grades in the "B" range or higher and SAT/ACT scores that are at least average.

• GPA-SAT-ACT Graph for Meredith College Admission

NC State University

About half of applicants to NC State get in, which means over 10,000 applicants receive rejection letters. You're probably going to need above average grades and test scores to be admitted.

• GPA-SAT-ACT Graph for NC State Admission

Salem College

Salem is another women's college, and its admissions bar is similar to Meredith College. A little over a third of applicants will not get in, and you'll need grades and test scores that are at least average.

• GPA-SAT-ACT Graph for Salem College Admission

UNC Asheville

You'll want a GPA above a "B" and above average SAT/ACT scores to be competitive at UNC Asheville. Don't be fooled by the school's relatively high acceptance rate--students who don't qualify for admission don't tend to apply.

• GPA-SAT-ACT Graph for UNC Asheville Admission

UNC Chapel Hill

As the flagship campus of the UNC system, Chapel Hill is highly selective. Less than a third of all applicants will get in, and those who are admitted have grades and test scores that are significantly above average.

• GPA-SAT-ACT Graph for UNC Chapel Hill Admission

UNC School of the Arts

Only a third of applicants will get into UNC School of the Arts, but unlike other schools on this list, your grades and test scores may not be the most important part of your application. Successful applicants need to have strong non-numerical measures such as auditions, portfolios, and resumés of relevant experiences.

• GPA-SAT-ACT Graph for UNC School of the Arts Admission

UNC Wilmington

UNC Wilmington is a moderately selective public university. Over a third of applicants won't get in, and those who are admitted typically have above average grades and SAT/ACT scores.

• GPA-SAT-ACT Graph for UNC Wilmington Admission

Wake Forest University

Wake Forest is one of the more selective colleges to move to test-optional admissions, so you don't need to worry about your SAT and ACT scores. That said, you probably will need high school grades up in the "A" range.

• GPA-SAT-ACT Graph for Wake Forest Admission

Warren Wilson College

As a work college, Warren Wilson is not for everyone, and the admissions process is largely about identifying students who will be a good match for the school's ethos. Roughly four out of every five applicants are admitted. Successful applicants tend to have grades in the "B" range or better and above average standardized test scores.

• GPA-SAT-ACT Graph for Waren Wilson College Admission