25 Best colleges for Astrophysics and Astronomy 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 Astrophysics and Astronomy. A graph of 1.45M citations received by 40K academic papers made by 25 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

#45 in the United States

#49 in North America

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

2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#48 in the United States

#52 in North America

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

3. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#56 in the United States

#63 in North America

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

4. Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#159 in the United States

#184 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 Astrophysics and Astronomy

#167 in the United States

#193 in North America

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

6. East Carolina University

Greenville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#201 in the United States

#229 in North America

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

7. Appalachian State University

Boone

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#245 in the United States

#278 in North America

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

8. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#287 in the United States

#326 in North America

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

9. North Carolina A&T State University

Greensboro

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#340 in the United States

#384 in North America

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

10. University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#358 in the United States

#403 in North America

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

11. North Carolina Central University

Durham

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#364 in the United States

#409 in North America

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

12. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#455 in the United States

#506 in North America

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

13. St. Andrews University

Laurinburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#461 in the United States

#512 in North America

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

14. Davidson College

Davidson

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#509 in the United States

#562 in North America

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

15. University of North Carolina at Asheville

Asheville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#513 in the United States

#566 in North America

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

16. Elon University

Elon

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#607 in the United States

#662 in North America

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

17. High Point University

High Point

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#611 in the United States

#666 in North America

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

18. University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Pembroke

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#689 in the United States

#751 in North America

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

19. Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#728 in the United States

#792 in North America

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

20. Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#736 in the United States

#800 in North America

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

21. Guilford College

Greensboro

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#852 in the United States

#918 in North America

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

22. Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#861 in the United States

#927 in North America

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

23. Campbell University

Buies Creek

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#888 in the United States

#956 in North America

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

24. Piedmont International University

Winston-Salem

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#915 in the United States

#983 in North America

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

25. Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#918 in the United States

#986 in North America

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

Closest to North Carolina states to learn Astrophysics and Astronomy

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
South Carolina	14	97
Virginia	29	36
West Virginia	6	107
Georgia	25	32
District of Columbia	8	101
Maryland	18	14
Kentucky	13	68
Tennessee	20	63
Ohio	35	21
Pennsylvania	64	12
Alabama	16	91
New Jersey	18	6
Indiana	20	33
Florida	27	29
Connecticut	18	22
Illinois	36	10
New York	85	9
Mississippi	7	161
Rhode Island	6	51
Massachusetts	48	4
Michigan	21	8
Arkansas	9	142
Vermont	4	169
Missouri	16	44
New Hampshire	8	75
Louisiana	17	64
Wisconsin	21	19
Iowa	11	53
Maine	7	202
Oklahoma	9	71
Kansas	10	82
Minnesota	21	28
Nebraska	7	93
Texas	53	15
South Dakota	7	239
North Dakota	3	206
Colorado	14	20
Puerto Rico	6	305
New Mexico	6	69
Montana	4	109
Utah	6	50
Arizona	5	7
Idaho	4	171
Oregon	14	74
California	73	1
Washington	16	11
Alaska	3	117
Hawaii	4	61