Top Ranked Colleges: Universities | Public Universities | Liberal Arts Colleges | Engineering | Business | Women's | Most Selective
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 15 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.
Compare Top North Carolina Colleges: SAT Scores | ACT Scores
Appalachian State University
allygirl520 / Flickr
- Location: Boone, North Carolina
- Enrollment: 16,610 (14,561 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: public university
- Distinctions: 140 major programs; 17 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
Davidson College
functoruser / Flickr
- Location: Davidson, North Carolina
- Enrollment: 1,668 (all undergraduate)
- Type of Institution: private liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church
- Distinctions: 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 Southern 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
Duke University
mricon / Flickr
- Location: Durham, North Carolina
- Enrollment: 14,060 (6,496 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
Elon University
photo courtesy of Elon University / Office of University Relations
- Location: Elon, North Carolina
- Enrollment: 5,628 (4,992 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 Southern Conference
- For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Elon University profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Elon
Guilford College
Parkram412 / Wikipedia
- Location: Greensboro, North Carolina
- Enrollment: 2,641 (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; 16 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
High Point University
Exwhysee / Wikimedia Commons
- Location: High Point, North Carolina
- Enrollment: 3,409 (3,059 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: private liberal arts college affiliated with the Methodist Church
- Distinctions: 14 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
Meredith College
twbuckner / Flickr
- Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
- Enrollment: 2,250 (2,001 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: private liberal arts college for women
- Distinctions: 10 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
North Carolina State University
opus2008 / Flickr
- Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
- Enrollment: 32,872 (24,741 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
- For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the North Carolina State profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for NOrth Carolina State
Salem College
bnhsu / Flickr
- Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Enrollment: 939 (735 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
UNC Asheville
Marcy Reiford / Flickr
- Location: Asheville, North Carolina
- Enrollment: 3,629 (3,589 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
