38 Best colleges for Geology 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 Geology. A graph of 6.89M citations received by 159K academic papers made by 38 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. Duke University

Durham

For Geology

#33 in the United States

#37 in North America

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

2. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh

For Geology

#35 in the United States

#39 in North America

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

3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill

For Geology

#36 in the United States

#40 in North America

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

4. Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem

For Geology

#144 in the United States

#169 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 Geology

#170 in the United States

#198 in North America

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

6. East Carolina University

Greenville

For Geology

#181 in the United States

#210 in North America

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

7. University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington

For Geology

#230 in the United States

#263 in North America

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

8. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro

For Geology

#248 in the United States

#284 in North America

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

9. North Carolina A&T State University

Greensboro

For Geology

#278 in the United States

#318 in North America

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

10. Appalachian State University

Boone

For Geology

#284 in the United States

#326 in North America

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

11. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee

For Geology

#348 in the United States

#398 in North America

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

12. North Carolina Central University

Durham

For Geology

#514 in the United States

#567 in North America

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

13. University of North Carolina at Asheville

Asheville

For Geology

#529 in the United States

#583 in North America

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

14. Davidson College

Davidson

For Geology

#566 in the United States

#621 in North America

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

15. Elon University

Elon

For Geology

#620 in the United States

#680 in North America

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

16. University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Pembroke

For Geology

#634 in the United States

#695 in North America

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

17. Campbell University

Buies Creek

For Geology

#677 in the United States

#739 in North America

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

18. Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville

For Geology

#710 in the United States

#774 in North America

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

19. High Point University

High Point

For Geology

#752 in the United States

#818 in North America

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

20. Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte

For Geology

#823 in the United States

#891 in North America

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

21. Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem

For Geology

#839 in the United States

#907 in North America

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

22. St. Andrews University

Laurinburg

For Geology

#859 in the United States

#927 in North America

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

23. Methodist University

Fayetteville

For Geology

#946 in the United States

#1016 in North America

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

24. Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City

For Geology

#1001 in the United States

#1072 in North America

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

25. Guilford College

Greensboro

For Geology

#1003 in the United States

#1074 in North America

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

26. Greensboro College

Greensboro

For Geology

#1013 in the United States

#1085 in North America

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

27. Wingate University

Wingate

For Geology

#1076 in the United States

#1151 in North America

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

28. Piedmont International University

Winston-Salem

For Geology

#1086 in the United States

#1161 in North America

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

29. Warren Wilson College

Swannanoa

For Geology

#1140 in the United States

#1216 in North America

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

30. Meredith College

Raleigh

For Geology

#1147 in the United States

#1223 in North America

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

31. Johnson C Smith University

Charlotte

For Geology

#1234 in the United States

#1311 in North America

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

32. Gardner-Webb University

Boiling Springs

For Geology

#1241 in the United States

#1318 in North America

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

33. Shaw University

Raleigh

For Geology

#1259 in the United States

#1336 in North America

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

34. Lenoir-Rhyne University

Hickory

For Geology

#1272 in the United States

#1350 in North America

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

35. Mars Hill University

Mars Hill

For Geology

#1289 in the United States

#1368 in North America

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

36. Salem College

Winston-Salem

For Geology

#1315 in the United States

#1394 in North America

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

37. Catawba College

Salisbury

For Geology

#1342 in the United States

#1423 in North America

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

38. University of Mount Olive

Mount Olive

For Geology

#1380 in the United States

#1462 in North America

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

Closest to North Carolina states to learn Geology

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
South Carolina	25	86
Virginia	40	46
West Virginia	15	115
Georgia	38	39
District of Columbia	9	123
Maryland	25	21
Kentucky	22	67
Tennessee	30	56
Ohio	54	18
Pennsylvania	90	12
Alabama	24	94
New Jersey	23	25
Indiana	30	29
Florida	47	16
Connecticut	20	19
Illinois	65	10
New York	123	7
Mississippi	13	114
Rhode Island	9	61
Massachusetts	63	1
Michigan	29	5
Arkansas	16	130
Vermont	10	128
Missouri	30	43
New Hampshire	11	91
Louisiana	22	58
Wisconsin	27	8
Iowa	22	47
Maine	14	126
Oklahoma	17	64
Kansas	12	55
Minnesota	25	13
Nebraska	12	63
Texas	70	15
South Dakota	8	188
North Dakota	7	173
Colorado	18	24
Puerto Rico	13	261
New Mexico	8	83
Montana	8	97
Utah	11	42
Arizona	9	20
Idaho	7	127
Nevada	7	109
Oregon	17	37
California	113	2
Washington	29	3
Alaska	4	85
Hawaii	7	70