List of 65 best universities in North Carolina

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Top 65 universities in North Carolina ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence. The rankings are determined by analyzing 24.3M citations received by 777K academic publications made by 65 universities from North Carolina, the popularity of 3,078 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill

#24 in the United States

#26 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

2. Duke University

Durham

#28 in the United States

#30 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

3. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh

#45 in the United States

#49 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

4. Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem

#117 in the United States

#136 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Net Price: $26,197
Receiving Aid: 37%
Average Aid: $54,233

5. East Carolina University

Greenville

#173 in the United States

#198 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $9,020
Enrollment: 27,151

6. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte

#176 in the United States

#201 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 75%

7. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro

#196 in the United States

#222 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

8. Appalachian State University

Boone

#253 in the United States

#284 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 70%

9. University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington

#287 in the United States

#318 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 74%

10. North Carolina A&T State University

Greensboro

#318 in the United States

#354 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1050
Average ACT: 20
Receiving Aid: 97%

11. Davidson College

Davidson

#360 in the United States

#401 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $26,704

12. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee

#394 in the United States

#439 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

13. Elon University

Elon

#400 in the United States

#445 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $41,527

14. North Carolina Central University

Durham

#453 in the United States

#500 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 970
Average ACT: 19
Receiving Aid: 96%

15. University of North Carolina at Asheville

Asheville

#529 in the United States

#580 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1243
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 94%

16. Campbell University

Buies Creek

#565 in the United States

#619 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Net Price: $24,280
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $33,425

17. University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Pembroke

#606 in the United States

#662 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $6,619
Enrollment: 7,666

18. High Point University

High Point

#609 in the United States

#665 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1192
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $40,221

19. Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem

#622 in the United States

#679 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 940
Average ACT: 17
Receiving Aid: 95%

20. Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte

#633 in the United States

#691 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1168
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $29,459

21. Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville

#640 in the United States

#698 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 965
Average ACT: 17
Receiving Aid: 91%

22. Guilford College

Greensboro

#850 in the United States

#918 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1045
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $23,882

23. Meredith College

Raleigh

#994 in the United States

#1065 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $23,259

24. Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City

#1066 in the United States

#1138 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 960
Average ACT: 19
Receiving Aid: 97%

25. Wingate University

Wingate

#1091 in the United States

#1164 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1080
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $18,823

26. Gardner-Webb University

Boiling Springs

#1100 in the United States

#1174 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $22,339

27. Warren Wilson College

Swannanoa

#1149 in the United States

#1224 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $28,086
Receiving Aid: 100%

28. Lenoir-Rhyne University

Hickory

#1176 in the United States

#1252 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Net Price: $21,843
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $35,641

29. Methodist University

Fayetteville

#1183 in the United States

#1259 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1132
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $28,129

30. Johnson C Smith University

Charlotte

#1194 in the United States

#1271 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Net Price: $20,045
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $12,911

31. Shaw University

Raleigh

#1220 in the United States

#1297 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Net Price: $14,204
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $15,548

32. St. Andrews University

Laurinburg

#1229 in the United States

#1306 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Net Price: $31,864
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $17,026

33. Pfeiffer University

Misenheimer

#1240 in the United States

#1317 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average ACT: 18
Net Price: $21,575
Receiving Aid: 100%

34. University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Winston-Salem

#1249 in the United States

#1326 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Average SAT: 1233
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

35. Catawba College

Salisbury

#1307 in the United States

#1384 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $19,701

36. Bennett College

Greensboro

#1318 in the United States

#1397 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Net Price: $20,545
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $14,996

37. Salem College

Winston-Salem

#1326 in the United States

#1405 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Net Price: $18,354
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $30,048

38. Greensboro College

Greensboro

#1342 in the United States

#1422 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Net Price: $19,581
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $15,283

39. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Wake Forest

#1397 in the United States

#1477 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1120
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $16,324

40. Barton College

Wilson

#1406 in the United States

#1486 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Net Price: $23,443
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $23,431

41. Cabarrus College of Health Sciences

Concord

#1442 in the United States

#1524 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1010
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $17,217

42. Brevard College

Brevard

#1452 in the United States

#1535 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $24,220

43. University of Mount Olive

Mount Olive

#1481 in the United States

#1565 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Net Price: $17,878
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $16,371

44. Chowan University

Murfreesboro

#1498 in the United States

#1582 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 983
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $17,334

45. Mars Hill University

Mars Hill

#1532 in the United States

#1617 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Net Price: $17,721
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $28,916

46. North Carolina Wesleyan College

Rocky Mount

#1533 in the United States

#1618 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Net Price: $18,701
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $28,392

47. Belmont Abbey College

Belmont

#1537 in the United States

#1622 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Average SAT: 1045
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $23,522

48. William Peace University

Raleigh

#1552 in the United States

#1637 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1092
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $23,041

49. Livingstone College

Salisbury

#1562 in the United States

#1647 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 880
Average ACT: 18
Net Price: $15,914

50. Montreat College

Montreat

#1588 in the United States

#1674 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Net Price: $25,485
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $17,519

51. Piedmont International University

Winston-Salem

#1656 in the United States

#1743 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Net Price: $16,731
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $10,437

52. Lees-McRae College

Banner Elk

#1711 in the United States

#1798 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Net Price: $24,108
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $18,205

53. Mid-Atlantic Christian University

Elizabeth City

#1988 in the United States

#2081 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Net Price: $22,120
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $9,320

54. Saint Augustine's University

Raleigh

#2001 in the United States

#2094 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Net Price: $20,081
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,769

55. Platt College-Miller-Motte-Wilmington

Wilmington

#2147 in the United States

#2244 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $23,406
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $5,281

56. Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts

Asheville

#2226 in the United States

#2325 in North America

Enrollment: 88
Male:Female: 29:71

57. Hood Theological Seminary

Salisbury

#2248 in the United States

#2348 in North America

Enrollment: 146
Male:Female: 52:48

58. Shepherds Theological Seminary

Cary

#2249 in the United States

#2349 in North America

Enrollment: 161
Male:Female: 86:14

59. Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine

Sugar Grove

#2292 in the United States

#2393 in North America

Enrollment: 83
Male:Female: 19:81

60. Living Arts College

Raleigh

#2293 in the United States

#2394 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $23,814
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $6,101

61. Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary

Charlotte

#2330 in the United States

#2431 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $15,124
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $490

62. Carolina College of Biblical Studies

Fayetteville

#2344 in the United States

#2445 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $15,448
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $6,495

63. Heritage Bible College

Dunn

#2346 in the United States

#2447 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $9,386
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $5,992

64. Manna University

Fayetteville

#2354 in the United States

#2455 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $11,849
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $3,966

65. Carolina Christian College

Winston-Salem

#2371 in the United States

#2472 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $13,528
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $4,620

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
South Carolina	37	87
Virginia	63	41
West Virginia	26	112
Georgia	63	44
District of Columbia	15	56
Maryland	34	9
Kentucky	38	60
Tennessee	56	50
Delaware	5	90
Ohio	90	18
Pennsylvania	155	12
Alabama	33	84
New Jersey	47	23
Indiana	55	39
Florida	109	22
Connecticut	28	11
Illinois	100	15
New York	221	4
Mississippi	18	133
Rhode Island	12	49
Massachusetts	88	1
Michigan	62	3
Arkansas	24	127
Vermont	17	109
Missouri	67	38
New Hampshire	16	77
Louisiana	27	79
Wisconsin	47	13
Iowa	39	47
Maine	19	152
Oklahoma	31	100
Kansas	32	75
Minnesota	48	14
Nebraska	23	68
Texas	119	26
South Dakota	15	233
North Dakota	14	182
Colorado	38	46
Puerto Rico	52	373
New Mexico	12	81
US Virgin Islands	1	811
Wyoming	1	141
Montana	12	153
Utah	20	40
Arizona	25	34
Idaho	10	148
Nevada	10	130
Oregon	31	63
California	249	2
Washington	57	8
Alaska	6	181
Hawaii	10	160
American Samoa	1	1702
Northern Mariana Islands	1	1594
Guam	2	614

Closest to North Carolina states