32 Best Theology / Divinity / Religious studies schools 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 Theology / Divinity / Religious studies. A graph of 734K citations received by 30.8K academic papers made by 32 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 Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1 in the United States

#2 in North America

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

2. Duke University

Durham

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#18 in the United States

#20 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 Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#93 in the United States

#106 in North America

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

4. Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#121 in the United States

#140 in North America

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

5. East Carolina University

Greenville

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#150 in the United States

#174 in North America

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

6. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#151 in the United States

#175 in North America

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

7. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#154 in the United States

#178 in North America

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

8. Appalachian State University

Boone

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#239 in the United States

#269 in North America

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

9. Davidson College

Davidson

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#240 in the United States

#270 in North America

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

10. University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#300 in the United States

#332 in North America

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

11. University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Pembroke

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#337 in the United States

#371 in North America

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

12. St. Andrews University

Laurinburg

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#413 in the United States

#455 in North America

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

13. Elon University

Elon

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#427 in the United States

#472 in North America

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

14. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#444 in the United States

#489 in North America

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

15. Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#543 in the United States

#595 in North America

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

16. Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#595 in the United States

#648 in North America

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

17. North Carolina A&T State University

Greensboro

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#620 in the United States

#674 in North America

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

18. Campbell University

Buies Creek

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#667 in the United States

#724 in North America

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

19. North Carolina Central University

Durham

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#677 in the United States

#734 in North America

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

20. University of North Carolina at Asheville

Asheville

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#713 in the United States

#771 in North America

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

21. Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#834 in the United States

#900 in North America

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

22. High Point University

High Point

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#876 in the United States

#944 in North America

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

23. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Wake Forest

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#882 in the United States

#950 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $16,031

24. Shaw University

Raleigh

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#923 in the United States

#993 in North America

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

25. Wingate University

Wingate

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#948 in the United States

#1019 in North America

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

26. Gardner-Webb University

Boiling Springs

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#973 in the United States

#1045 in North America

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

27. Methodist University

Fayetteville

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#993 in the United States

#1066 in North America

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

28. Guilford College

Greensboro

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1000 in the United States

#1073 in North America

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

29. Barton College

Wilson

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1063 in the United States

#1139 in North America

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

30. Meredith College

Raleigh

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1092 in the United States

#1168 in North America

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

31. Lenoir-Rhyne University

Hickory

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1103 in the United States

#1179 in North America

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

32. Greensboro College

Greensboro

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1110 in the United States

#1186 in North America

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

Closest to North Carolina states to learn Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
South Carolina	17	84
Virginia	36	28
West Virginia	5	134
Georgia	29	35
District of Columbia	10	34
Maryland	22	23
Kentucky	20	48
Tennessee	28	38
Ohio	43	19
Pennsylvania	78	9
Alabama	18	77
New Jersey	21	16
Indiana	27	25
Florida	34	26
Connecticut	17	7
Illinois	55	6
New York	107	8
Mississippi	8	167
Rhode Island	8	56
Massachusetts	53	5
Michigan	30	2
Arkansas	12	103
Vermont	6	91
Missouri	25	46
New Hampshire	11	78
Louisiana	19	89
Wisconsin	24	12
Iowa	17	37
Maine	7	258
Oklahoma	11	79
Kansas	10	62
Minnesota	25	27
Nebraska	7	96
Texas	62	14
South Dakota	5	469
North Dakota	3	245
Colorado	17	50
Puerto Rico	3	775
New Mexico	5	108
Utah	6	54
Arizona	6	22
Idaho	4	305
Oregon	14	109
California	101	3
Washington	18	15
Hawaii	5	102