46 Best colleges for Biology in North Carolina

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 24.8M citations received by 543K 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: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

2. Duke University

Durham

For Biology

#34 in the United States

#37 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

3. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh

For Biology

#58 in the United States

#64 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

4. Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem

For Biology

#90 in the United States

#102 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,401

5. East Carolina University

Greenville

For Biology

#158 in the United States

#180 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 77%

6. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte

For Biology

#209 in the United States

#235 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 75%

7. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro

For Biology

#231 in the United States

#259 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1253
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 92%

8. University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington

For Biology

#287 in the United States

#323 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 73%

9. North Carolina A&T State University

Greensboro

For Biology

#309 in the United States

#347 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 20
Receiving Aid: 94%

10. Appalachian State University

Boone

For Biology

#311 in the United States

#349 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 69%

11. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee

For Biology

#389 in the United States

#439 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 90%

12. North Carolina Central University

Durham

For Biology

#405 in the United States

#455 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $11,999

13. Davidson College

Davidson

For Biology

#539 in the United States

#591 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,720

14. Campbell University

Buies Creek

For Biology

#542 in the United States

#594 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Net Price: $25,736
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $36,532

15. Elon University

Elon

For Biology

#602 in the United States

#655 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $44,440

16. Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem

For Biology

#666 in the United States

#725 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 925
Average ACT: 18
Receiving Aid: 97%

17. University of North Carolina at Asheville

Asheville

For Biology

#667 in the United States

#726 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 93%

18. Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville

For Biology

#679 in the United States

#740 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 990
Average ACT: 17
Receiving Aid: 96%

19. University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Pembroke

For Biology

#680 in the United States

#741 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1085
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 90%

20. High Point University

High Point

For Biology

#699 in the United States

#760 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $43,086

21. Wingate University

Wingate

For Biology

#741 in the United States

#803 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $21,282

22. Guilford College

Greensboro

For Biology

#757 in the United States

#819 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $22,270

23. St. Andrews University

Laurinburg

For Biology

#767 in the United States

#829 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $29,474
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $21,207

24. Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte

For Biology

#782 in the United States

#844 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $31,839

25. Greensboro College

Greensboro

For Biology

#926 in the United States

#994 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Net Price: $18,730
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $16,367

26. Methodist University

Fayetteville

For Biology

#1001 in the United States

#1070 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $26,334

27. Piedmont International University

Winston-Salem

For Biology

#1027 in the United States

#1096 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Net Price: $20,412
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $11,947

28. Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City

For Biology

#1115 in the United States

#1185 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1000
Average ACT: 19
Receiving Aid: 93%

29. Pfeiffer University

Misenheimer

For Biology

#1140 in the United States

#1211 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Net Price: $19,660
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $25,951

30. Livingstone College

Salisbury

For Biology

#1155 in the United States

#1227 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Net Price: $12,826
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $15,485

31. Meredith College

Raleigh

For Biology

#1159 in the United States

#1231 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1223
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $24,323

32. Salem College

Winston-Salem

For Biology

#1206 in the United States

#1279 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 19
Net Price: $18,668

33. Warren Wilson College

Swannanoa

For Biology

#1232 in the United States

#1306 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $26,084
Receiving Aid: 100%

34. University of Mount Olive

Mount Olive

For Biology

#1275 in the United States

#1349 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $18,853
Receiving Aid: 100%

35. Lenoir-Rhyne University

Hickory

For Biology

#1295 in the United States

#1370 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Net Price: $21,546
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $23,467

36. Johnson C Smith University

Charlotte

For Biology

#1317 in the United States

#1394 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Net Price: $19,705
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $15,238

37. Shaw University

Raleigh

For Biology

#1323 in the United States

#1400 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Net Price: $16,445
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $14,417

38. Catawba College

Salisbury

For Biology

#1335 in the United States

#1412 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $18,447

39. Gardner-Webb University

Boiling Springs

For Biology

#1337 in the United States

#1414 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1087
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $20,016

40. Mars Hill University

Mars Hill

For Biology

#1368 in the United States

#1446 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Net Price: $18,925
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,066

41. North Carolina Wesleyan College

Rocky Mount

For Biology

#1416 in the United States

#1495 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Net Price: $18,472
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,552

42. Brevard College

Brevard

For Biology

#1432 in the United States

#1512 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1045
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $26,930

43. Barton College

Wilson

For Biology

#1461 in the United States

#1543 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Net Price: $23,962
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $27,266

44. Bennett College

Greensboro

For Biology

#1481 in the United States

#1563 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 940
Net Price: $26,990
Receiving Aid: 96%

45. Cabarrus College of Health Sciences

Concord

For Biology

#1532 in the United States

#1617 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $14,795
Receiving Aid: 100%

46. Belmont Abbey College

Belmont

For Biology

#1573 in the United States

#1660 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1080
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $24,726

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
South Carolina	28	94
Virginia	43	49
West Virginia	21	120
Georgia	48	32
District of Columbia	9	81
Maryland	28	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	62	22
Connecticut	20	9
Illinois	74	23
New York	136	7
Mississippi	14	145
Rhode Island	9	69
Massachusetts	69	1
Michigan	37	4
Arkansas	17	115
Vermont	12	112
Missouri	36	17
New Hampshire	12	99
Louisiana	25	83
Wisconsin	33	13
Iowa	30	42
Maine	16	176
Oklahoma	21	124
Kansas	17	98
Minnesota	28	16
Nebraska	14	97
Texas	79	20
South Dakota	10	207
North Dakota	9	167
Colorado	20	57
Puerto Rico	15	315
New Mexico	9	96
Montana	9	141
Utah	11	36
Arizona	11	37
Idaho	7	159
Nevada	8	142
Oregon	18	64
California	134	3
Washington	33	5
Alaska	4	184
Hawaii	7	123

Closest to North Carolina states to learn Biology

Biology subfields in North Carolina