46 Best colleges for Biology in North Carolina

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North Carolina ranked based on their research performance in Biology. A graph of 23.6M citations received by 527K academic papers made by 46 universities in North Carolina was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill

For Biology

#18 in the United States

#19 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

2. Duke University

Durham

For Biology

#34 in the United States

#37 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

3. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh

For Biology

#58 in the United States

#64 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

4. Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem

For Biology

#90 in the United States

#102 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,790

5. East Carolina University

Greenville

For Biology

#160 in the United States

#182 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 79%

6. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte

For Biology

#210 in the United States

#236 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 72%

7. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro

For Biology

#231 in the United States

#259 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

8. University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington

For Biology

#288 in the United States

#324 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 72%

9. Appalachian State University

Boone

For Biology

#311 in the United States

#348 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 70%

10. North Carolina A&T State University

Greensboro

For Biology

#313 in the United States

#350 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1075
Average ACT: 19
Receiving Aid: 96%

11. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee

For Biology

#392 in the United States

#442 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 99%

12. North Carolina Central University

Durham

For Biology

#407 in the United States

#457 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1040
Average ACT: 18
Receiving Aid: 96%

13. Davidson College

Davidson

For Biology

#540 in the United States

#592 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,510

14. Campbell University

Buies Creek

For Biology

#547 in the United States

#599 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Net Price: $24,517
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $34,413

15. Elon University

Elon

For Biology

#613 in the United States

#665 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1224
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $41,849

16. Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem

For Biology

#668 in the United States

#726 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 935
Average ACT: 16
Receiving Aid: 96%

17. University of North Carolina at Asheville

Asheville

For Biology

#669 in the United States

#727 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 93%

18. University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Pembroke

For Biology

#677 in the United States

#737 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $7,008
Enrollment: 7,630

19. Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville

For Biology

#683 in the United States

#744 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 950
Average ACT: 18
Receiving Aid: 95%

20. High Point University

High Point

For Biology

#717 in the United States

#778 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $43,578

21. Wingate University

Wingate

For Biology

#743 in the United States

#805 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $21,464

22. Guilford College

Greensboro

For Biology

#747 in the United States

#809 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $22,620

23. St. Andrews University

Laurinburg

For Biology

#773 in the United States

#835 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $31,503
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $18,206

24. Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte

For Biology

#778 in the United States

#840 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $27,178

25. Greensboro College

Greensboro

For Biology

#930 in the United States

#998 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Net Price: $19,783
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $14,676

26. Methodist University

Fayetteville

For Biology

#994 in the United States

#1063 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $25,786

27. Piedmont International University

Winston-Salem

For Biology

#1025 in the United States

#1094 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Net Price: $19,111
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $11,743

28. Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City

For Biology

#1120 in the United States

#1190 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 2,165

29. Pfeiffer University

Misenheimer

For Biology

#1137 in the United States

#1207 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Net Price: $21,402
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $25,458

30. Livingstone College

Salisbury

For Biology

#1149 in the United States

#1220 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Net Price: $15,162
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $13,065

31. Meredith College

Raleigh

For Biology

#1162 in the United States

#1234 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $23,405

32. Salem College

Winston-Salem

For Biology

#1209 in the United States

#1281 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1197
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $19,000

33. Warren Wilson College

Swannanoa

For Biology

#1233 in the United States

#1307 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $27,913
Receiving Aid: 99%

34. University of Mount Olive

Mount Olive

For Biology

#1270 in the United States

#1345 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $17,893
Receiving Aid: 100%

35. Lenoir-Rhyne University

Hickory

For Biology

#1292 in the United States

#1367 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Net Price: $24,042
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $33,874

36. Johnson C Smith University

Charlotte

For Biology

#1313 in the United States

#1389 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Net Price: $19,326
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $14,883

37. Shaw University

Raleigh

For Biology

#1314 in the United States

#1390 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Net Price: $14,111
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $15,568

38. Catawba College

Salisbury

For Biology

#1332 in the United States

#1409 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1098
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $18,319

39. Gardner-Webb University

Boiling Springs

For Biology

#1338 in the United States

#1415 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $24,035

40. Mars Hill University

Mars Hill

For Biology

#1364 in the United States

#1442 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Net Price: $19,842
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $28,914

41. North Carolina Wesleyan College

Rocky Mount

For Biology

#1427 in the United States

#1507 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Net Price: $19,111
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $29,177

42. Brevard College

Brevard

For Biology

#1432 in the United States

#1512 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1045
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $26,938

43. Barton College

Wilson

For Biology

#1454 in the United States

#1534 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Net Price: $23,804
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $24,334

44. Bennett College

Greensboro

For Biology

#1482 in the United States

#1564 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Average SAT: 902
Net Price: $20,928
Receiving Aid: 100%

45. Cabarrus College of Health Sciences

Concord

For Biology

#1524 in the United States

#1608 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1015
Average ACT: 19
Net Price: $14,344

46. Belmont Abbey College

Belmont

For Biology

#1594 in the United States

#1682 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1065
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $23,463

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
South Carolina	28	94
Virginia	43	49
West Virginia	21	121
Georgia	48	32
District of Columbia	9	81
Maryland	27	2
Kentucky	27	61
Tennessee	38	43
Delaware	3	105
Ohio	60	24
Pennsylvania	102	8
Alabama	28	44
New Jersey	27	35
Indiana	33	46
Florida	61	22
Connecticut	20	9
Illinois	74	23
New York	136	7
Mississippi	14	145
Rhode Island	9	69
Massachusetts	69	1
Michigan	36	4
Arkansas	17	114
Vermont	12	112
Missouri	36	17
New Hampshire	12	99
Louisiana	25	82
Wisconsin	33	13
Iowa	30	42
Maine	16	176
Oklahoma	21	124
Kansas	17	98
Minnesota	28	16
Nebraska	14	97
Texas	79	21
South Dakota	10	207
North Dakota	9	167
Colorado	20	57
Puerto Rico	15	315
New Mexico	9	96
Montana	9	139
Utah	11	36
Arizona	11	37
Idaho	7	162
Nevada	8	143
Oregon	18	64
California	134	3
Washington	33	5
Alaska	4	185
Hawaii	7	122

Closest to North Carolina states to learn Biology

Biology subfields in North Carolina