27 Best colleges for Machine Learning 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 Machine Learning. A graph of 3.13M citations received by 69K academic papers made by 27 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 Machine Learning

#21 in the United States

#22 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

2. Duke University

Durham

For Machine Learning

#31 in the United States

#33 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 Machine Learning

#40 in the United States

#46 in North America

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

4. Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem

For Machine Learning

#125 in the United States

#150 in North America

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

5. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte

For Machine Learning

#133 in the United States

#158 in North America

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

6. East Carolina University

Greenville

For Machine Learning

#189 in the United States

#220 in North America

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

7. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro

For Machine Learning

#199 in the United States

#230 in North America

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

8. North Carolina A&T State University

Greensboro

For Machine Learning

#238 in the United States

#273 in North America

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

9. Appalachian State University

Boone

For Machine Learning

#299 in the United States

#338 in North America

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

10. University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington

For Machine Learning

#301 in the United States

#340 in North America

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

11. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee

For Machine Learning

#427 in the United States

#479 in North America

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

12. Davidson College

Davidson

For Machine Learning

#454 in the United States

#507 in North America

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

13. North Carolina Central University

Durham

For Machine Learning

#507 in the United States

#560 in North America

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

14. Guilford College

Greensboro

For Machine Learning

#508 in the United States

#561 in North America

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

15. Elon University

Elon

For Machine Learning

#517 in the United States

#570 in North America

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

16. Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville

For Machine Learning

#528 in the United States

#581 in North America

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

17. University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Pembroke

For Machine Learning

#622 in the United States

#681 in North America

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

18. Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem

For Machine Learning

#662 in the United States

#724 in North America

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

19. Campbell University

Buies Creek

For Machine Learning

#680 in the United States

#742 in North America

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

20. University of North Carolina at Asheville

Asheville

For Machine Learning

#694 in the United States

#757 in North America

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

21. High Point University

High Point

For Machine Learning

#771 in the United States

#838 in North America

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

22. Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte

For Machine Learning

#796 in the United States

#863 in North America

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

23. Methodist University

Fayetteville

For Machine Learning

#861 in the United States

#930 in North America

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

24. Wingate University

Wingate

For Machine Learning

#888 in the United States

#958 in North America

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

25. Meredith College

Raleigh

For Machine Learning

#912 in the United States

#983 in North America

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

26. Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City

For Machine Learning

#931 in the United States

#1002 in North America

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

27. Piedmont International University

Winston-Salem

For Machine Learning

#991 in the United States

#1064 in North America

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

Closest to North Carolina states to learn Machine Learning

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
South Carolina	15	70
Virginia	28	45
West Virginia	7	113
Georgia	28	25
District of Columbia	8	95
Maryland	22	11
Kentucky	13	76
Tennessee	25	51
Ohio	37	23
Pennsylvania	64	6
Alabama	17	86
New Jersey	19	20
Indiana	23	28
Florida	35	33
Connecticut	19	24
Illinois	40	8
New York	95	10
Mississippi	8	136
Rhode Island	7	52
Massachusetts	50	3
Michigan	24	4
Arkansas	13	154
Vermont	3	132
Missouri	20	47
New Hampshire	10	97
Louisiana	17	91
Wisconsin	23	13
Iowa	10	41
Maine	7	230
Oklahoma	11	109
Kansas	9	81
Minnesota	22	12
Nebraska	7	89
Texas	59	22
South Dakota	6	290
North Dakota	4	165
Colorado	14	57
Puerto Rico	8	348
New Mexico	4	94
Montana	3	184
Utah	9	55
Arizona	6	26
Idaho	4	167
Nevada	3	157
Oregon	14	72
California	89	1
Washington	15	7
Alaska	3	257
Hawaii	4	152

Closest to North Carolina states to learn Machine Learning

Computer Science subfields in North Carolina