List of 65 best universities in North Carolina

Updated: July 18, 2023

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 21.6M citations received by 691K academic publications made by 65 universities from North Carolina, the popularity of 2,881 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: 20%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 60%

2. Duke University

Durham

#28 in the United States

#30 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1513
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,297

3. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh

#45 in the United States

#48 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 74%

4. Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem

#112 in the United States

#131 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Net Price: $24,643
Receiving Aid: 41%
Average Aid: $53,244

5. East Carolina University

Greenville

#171 in the United States

#196 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $7,761
Enrollment: 28,021

6. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte

#174 in the United States

#199 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 76%

7. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro

#197 in the United States

#223 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1178
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 86%

8. Appalachian State University

Boone

#256 in the United States

#287 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 75%

9. University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington

#279 in the United States

#310 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 72%

10. North Carolina A&T State University

Greensboro

#317 in the United States

#354 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1080
Average ACT: 19
Receiving Aid: 95%

11. Davidson College

Davidson

#380 in the United States

#424 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Net Price: $25,794
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $47,889

12. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee

#391 in the United States

#436 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 86%

13. Elon University

Elon

#405 in the United States

#450 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Net Price: $40,366
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $13,677

14. North Carolina Central University

Durham

#432 in the United States

#479 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1040
Average ACT: 18
Receiving Aid: 96%

15. University of North Carolina at Asheville

Asheville

#535 in the United States

#587 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 93%

16. Campbell University

Buies Creek

#570 in the United States

#623 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $23,163

17. Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville

#610 in the United States

#666 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 935
Average ACT: 17
Receiving Aid: 81%

18. University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Pembroke

#613 in the United States

#669 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1015
Average ACT: 19
Receiving Aid: 91%

19. Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte

#614 in the United States

#670 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1149
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $29,810

20. High Point University

High Point

#615 in the United States

#671 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1203
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $40,604

21. Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem

#630 in the United States

#687 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 960
Average ACT: 17
Receiving Aid: 98%

22. Guilford College

Greensboro

#871 in the United States

#939 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1075
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $25,785

23. Meredith College

Raleigh

#1019 in the United States

#1090 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1186
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $21,717

24. Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City

#1066 in the United States

#1139 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 965
Average ACT: 17
Receiving Aid: 97%

25. Wingate University

Wingate

#1087 in the United States

#1160 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Net Price: $19,013
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $33,359

26. Gardner-Webb University

Boiling Springs

#1112 in the United States

#1185 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1088
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $20,296

27. Warren Wilson College

Swannanoa

#1121 in the United States

#1194 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $25,611
Receiving Aid: 100%

28. Methodist University

Fayetteville

#1163 in the United States

#1238 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $18,205

29. Johnson C Smith University

Charlotte

#1169 in the United States

#1245 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Net Price: $14,000
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $12,442

30. Lenoir-Rhyne University

Hickory

#1171 in the United States

#1247 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Net Price: $21,739
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $32,070

31. St. Andrews University

Laurinburg

#1224 in the United States

#1301 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Net Price: $19,862
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $27,106

32. Shaw University

Raleigh

#1232 in the United States

#1309 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Net Price: $15,498
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $15,344

33. University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Winston-Salem

#1251 in the United States

#1328 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 79%

34. Pfeiffer University

Misenheimer

#1253 in the United States

#1330 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1028
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $19,198

35. Bennett College

Greensboro

#1284 in the United States

#1361 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Net Price: $23,140
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $12,706

36. Barton College

Wilson

#1302 in the United States

#1381 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $22,996

37. Catawba College

Salisbury

#1319 in the United States

#1398 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1070
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $19,276

38. Salem College

Winston-Salem

#1333 in the United States

#1413 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1127
Average ACT: 19
Net Price: $11,408

39. Belmont Abbey College

Belmont

#1367 in the United States

#1447 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Average SAT: 1117
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $21,821

40. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Wake Forest

#1374 in the United States

#1454 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Net Price: $16,036
Receiving Aid: 52%
Average Aid: $8,015

41. Greensboro College

Greensboro

#1388 in the United States

#1470 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Net Price: $16,239
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $15,982

42. Brevard College

Brevard

#1424 in the United States

#1507 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Net Price: $21,305
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $21,744

43. University of Mount Olive

Mount Olive

#1454 in the United States

#1537 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1070
Average ACT: 19
Net Price: $16,736

44. Cabarrus College of Health Sciences

Concord

#1472 in the United States

#1557 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1045
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $18,506

45. Livingstone College

Salisbury

#1497 in the United States

#1582 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 899
Average ACT: 14
Net Price: $15,205

46. Mars Hill University

Mars Hill

#1511 in the United States

#1596 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Net Price: $18,717
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $27,309

47. William Peace University

Raleigh

#1526 in the United States

#1612 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1154
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $26,338

48. Chowan University

Murfreesboro

#1537 in the United States

#1623 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 978
Average ACT: 18
Net Price: $17,070

49. North Carolina Wesleyan College

Rocky Mount

#1552 in the United States

#1638 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Average SAT: 990
Average ACT: 18
Net Price: $20,208

50. Montreat College

Montreat

#1564 in the United States

#1650 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $23,083

51. Piedmont International University

Winston-Salem

#1572 in the United States

#1658 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Net Price: $14,179
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $12,307

52. Lees-McRae College

Banner Elk

#1706 in the United States

#1793 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $25,894

53. Saint Augustine's University

Raleigh

#1980 in the United States

#2073 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Net Price: $18,158
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $12,779

54. Mid-Atlantic Christian University

Elizabeth City

#2007 in the United States

#2100 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 960
Average ACT: 18
Net Price: $22,911

55. Platt College-Miller-Motte-Wilmington

Wilmington

#2138 in the United States

#2235 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $23,889
Receiving Aid: 77%
Average Aid: $4,500

56. Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts

Asheville

#2236 in the United States

#2336 in North America

Enrollment: 108
Male:Female: 21:79

57. Hood Theological Seminary

Salisbury

#2240 in the United States

#2340 in North America

Enrollment: 144
Male:Female: 50:50

58. Shepherds Theological Seminary

Cary

#2247 in the United States

#2347 in North America

Enrollment: 142
Male:Female: 84:16

59. Living Arts College

Raleigh

#2299 in the United States

#2399 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Net Price: $23,814
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $6,101

60. Heritage Bible College

Dunn

#2336 in the United States

#2437 in North America

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

61. Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine

Sugar Grove

#2337 in the United States

#2438 in North America

Enrollment: 72
Male:Female: 22:78

62. Manna University

Fayetteville

#2353 in the United States

#2454 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Net Price: $14,811
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $6,734

63. Carolina College of Biblical Studies

Fayetteville

#2359 in the United States

#2460 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $19,684
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,139

64. Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary

Charlotte

#2360 in the United States

#2461 in North America

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

65. Carolina Christian College

Winston-Salem

#2396 in the United States

#2497 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $7,738
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $6,902

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
South Carolina	37	87
Virginia	63	41
West Virginia	26	110
Georgia	63	44
District of Columbia	15	66
Maryland	34	12
Kentucky	38	58
Tennessee	56	49
Delaware	5	89
Ohio	90	17
Pennsylvania	155	11
Alabama	33	84
New Jersey	47	23
Indiana	55	39
Florida	109	22
Connecticut	28	8
Illinois	100	15
New York	221	6
Mississippi	18	132
Rhode Island	12	54
Massachusetts	88	1
Michigan	62	3
Arkansas	24	126
Vermont	17	106
Missouri	67	38
New Hampshire	16	78
Louisiana	27	83
Wisconsin	47	13
Iowa	39	47
Maine	19	154
Oklahoma	31	97
Kansas	32	74
Minnesota	48	14
Nebraska	23	70
Texas	119	25
South Dakota	15	242
North Dakota	14	185
Colorado	38	46
Puerto Rico	52	375
New Mexico	12	79
US Virgin Islands	1	803
Wyoming	1	143
Montana	12	144
Utah	20	40
Arizona	25	30
Idaho	10	157
Nevada	10	130
Oregon	31	63
California	249	2
Washington	57	7
Alaska	6	179
Hawaii	10	160
American Samoa	1	1703
Northern Mariana Islands	1	1622
Guam	2	595

Closest to North Carolina states