39 Best Physics 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 Physics. A graph of 11.9M citations received by 301K academic papers made by 39 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 Physics

#36 in the United States

#40 in North America

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

2. Duke University

Durham

For Physics

#40 in the United States

#45 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 Physics

#41 in the United States

#46 in North America

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

4. Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem

For Physics

#137 in the United States

#161 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 Physics

#170 in the United States

#198 in North America

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

6. East Carolina University

Greenville

For Physics

#214 in the United States

#245 in North America

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

7. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro

For Physics

#262 in the United States

#299 in North America

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

8. North Carolina A&T State University

Greensboro

For Physics

#268 in the United States

#305 in North America

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

9. University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington

For Physics

#327 in the United States

#370 in North America

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

10. Appalachian State University

Boone

For Physics

#331 in the United States

#374 in North America

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

11. North Carolina Central University

Durham

For Physics

#466 in the United States

#519 in North America

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

12. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee

For Physics

#499 in the United States

#554 in North America

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

13. Davidson College

Davidson

For Physics

#511 in the United States

#566 in North America

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

14. University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Pembroke

For Physics

#582 in the United States

#637 in North America

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

15. Elon University

Elon

For Physics

#583 in the United States

#638 in North America

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

16. St. Andrews University

Laurinburg

For Physics

#584 in the United States

#639 in North America

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

17. Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte

For Physics

#591 in the United States

#647 in North America

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

18. University of North Carolina at Asheville

Asheville

For Physics

#607 in the United States

#663 in North America

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

19. Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville

For Physics

#657 in the United States

#717 in North America

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

20. Guilford College

Greensboro

For Physics

#689 in the United States

#749 in North America

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

21. Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem

For Physics

#706 in the United States

#767 in North America

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

22. Piedmont International University

Winston-Salem

For Physics

#769 in the United States

#832 in North America

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

23. High Point University

High Point

For Physics

#773 in the United States

#838 in North America

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

24. Campbell University

Buies Creek

For Physics

#838 in the United States

#905 in North America

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

25. Greensboro College

Greensboro

For Physics

#962 in the United States

#1031 in North America

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

26. Methodist University

Fayetteville

For Physics

#981 in the United States

#1050 in North America

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

27. Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City

For Physics

#1062 in the United States

#1133 in North America

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

28. Wingate University

Wingate

For Physics

#1163 in the United States

#1240 in North America

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

29. Meredith College

Raleigh

For Physics

#1189 in the United States

#1266 in North America

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

30. Johnson C Smith University

Charlotte

For Physics

#1212 in the United States

#1289 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Net Price: $19,705
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $15,238

31. Gardner-Webb University

Boiling Springs

For Physics

#1246 in the United States

#1323 in North America

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

32. Salem College

Winston-Salem

For Physics

#1255 in the United States

#1332 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 19
Net Price: $18,668

33. Pfeiffer University

Misenheimer

For Physics

#1306 in the United States

#1384 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Net Price: $19,660
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $25,951

34. University of Mount Olive

Mount Olive

For Physics

#1323 in the United States

#1402 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $18,853
Receiving Aid: 100%

35. Warren Wilson College

Swannanoa

For Physics

#1345 in the United States

#1425 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $26,084
Receiving Aid: 100%

36. Bennett College

Greensboro

For Physics

#1369 in the United States

#1449 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 940
Net Price: $26,990
Receiving Aid: 96%

37. Shaw University

Raleigh

For Physics

#1414 in the United States

#1495 in North America

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

38. Lenoir-Rhyne University

Hickory

For Physics

#1467 in the United States

#1550 in North America

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

39. Catawba College

Salisbury

For Physics

#1468 in the United States

#1551 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $18,447

Closest to North Carolina states to learn Physics

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
South Carolina	27	82
Virginia	41	45
West Virginia	18	113
Georgia	45	17
District of Columbia	9	111
Maryland	27	18
Kentucky	25	72
Tennessee	32	55
Delaware	3	58
Ohio	59	24
Pennsylvania	103	12
Alabama	24	97
New Jersey	28	11
Indiana	32	25
Florida	56	29
Connecticut	20	26
Illinois	68	6
New York	134	8
Mississippi	14	141
Rhode Island	9	57
Massachusetts	69	1
Michigan	37	5
Arkansas	18	121
Vermont	11	136
Missouri	35	51
New Hampshire	11	96
Louisiana	24	75
Wisconsin	32	14
Iowa	29	42
Maine	14	185
Oklahoma	19	93
Kansas	15	92
Minnesota	26	16
Nebraska	11	83
Texas	76	13
South Dakota	8	247
North Dakota	8	172
Colorado	20	35
Puerto Rico	15	284
New Mexico	9	84
Montana	7	149
Utah	11	44
Arizona	10	30
Idaho	7	157
Nevada	6	127
Oregon	17	77
California	134	2
Washington	31	10
Alaska	4	180
Hawaii	7	114