24 Best colleges for Astrophysics and Astronomy in North Carolina

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North Carolina ranked based on their research performance in Astrophysics and Astronomy. A graph of 1.43M citations received by 39K academic papers made by 24 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 Astrophysics and Astronomy

#47 in the United States

#51 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#49 in the United States

#53 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

3. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#56 in the United States

#63 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

4. Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#157 in the United States

#182 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,790

5. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#167 in the United States

#193 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 72%

6. East Carolina University

Greenville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#203 in the United States

#231 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 79%

7. Appalachian State University

Boone

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#250 in the United States

#283 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 70%

8. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#286 in the United States

#325 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

9. North Carolina A&T State University

Greensboro

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#339 in the United States

#382 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1075
Average ACT: 19
Receiving Aid: 96%

10. North Carolina Central University

Durham

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#362 in the United States

#407 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1040
Average ACT: 18
Receiving Aid: 96%

11. University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#363 in the United States

#408 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 72%

12. St. Andrews University

Laurinburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#452 in the United States

#502 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $31,503
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $18,206

13. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#461 in the United States

#511 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 99%

14. Davidson College

Davidson

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#494 in the United States

#546 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,510

15. University of North Carolina at Asheville

Asheville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#507 in the United States

#560 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 93%

16. Elon University

Elon

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#609 in the United States

#664 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1224
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $41,849

17. High Point University

High Point

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#620 in the United States

#675 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $43,578

18. University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Pembroke

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#689 in the United States

#751 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $7,008
Enrollment: 7,630

19. Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#727 in the United States

#789 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 935
Average ACT: 16
Receiving Aid: 96%

20. Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#728 in the United States

#790 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $27,178

21. Guilford College

Greensboro

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#849 in the United States

#915 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $22,620

22. Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#861 in the United States

#927 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 950
Average ACT: 18
Receiving Aid: 95%

23. Campbell University

Buies Creek

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#893 in the United States

#961 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Net Price: $24,517
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $34,413

24. Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#914 in the United States

#982 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 2,165

Closest to North Carolina states to learn Astrophysics and Astronomy

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
South Carolina	14	98
Virginia	28	36
West Virginia	5	108
Georgia	25	32
District of Columbia	8	101
Maryland	18	14
Kentucky	13	68
Tennessee	20	63
Ohio	34	21
Pennsylvania	63	12
Alabama	16	91
New Jersey	18	6
Indiana	20	33
Florida	28	29
Connecticut	18	22
Illinois	35	10
New York	85	9
Mississippi	7	164
Rhode Island	6	51
Massachusetts	48	4
Michigan	21	8
Arkansas	9	142
Vermont	4	169
Missouri	16	45
New Hampshire	8	75
Louisiana	17	64
Wisconsin	21	19
Iowa	11	53
Maine	7	202
Oklahoma	9	72
Kansas	10	82
Minnesota	21	28
Nebraska	7	93
Texas	53	15
South Dakota	7	242
North Dakota	3	206
Colorado	14	20
Puerto Rico	6	306
New Mexico	6	69
Montana	4	109
Utah	6	50
Arizona	5	7
Idaho	4	170
Oregon	14	74
California	73	1
Washington	16	11
Alaska	3	116
Hawaii	4	61