List of 65 best universities in North Carolina

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 35.9M citations received by 937K academic publications made by 65 universities from North Carolina, the popularity of 3,454 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: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

2. Duke University

Durham

#27 in the United States

#29 in North America

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

3. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh

#44 in the United States

#47 in North America

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

4. Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem

#111 in the United States

#127 in North America

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

5. East Carolina University

Greenville

#174 in the United States

#198 in North America

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

6. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte

#191 in the United States

#216 in North America

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

7. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro

#201 in the United States

#228 in North America

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

8. Appalachian State University

Boone

#247 in the United States

#278 in North America

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

9. University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington

#288 in the United States

#319 in North America

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

10. North Carolina A&T State University

Greensboro

#310 in the United States

#344 in North America

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

11. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee

#370 in the United States

#413 in North America

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

12. Elon University

Elon

#393 in the United States

#439 in North America

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

13. Davidson College

Davidson

#399 in the United States

#445 in North America

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

14. North Carolina Central University

Durham

#445 in the United States

#492 in North America

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

15. Campbell University

Buies Creek

#546 in the United States

#601 in North America

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

16. University of North Carolina at Asheville

Asheville

#552 in the United States

#607 in North America

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

17. University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Pembroke

#601 in the United States

#658 in North America

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

18. High Point University

High Point

#620 in the United States

#679 in North America

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

19. Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville

#632 in the United States

#691 in North America

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

20. Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem

#648 in the United States

#708 in North America

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

21. Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte

#655 in the United States

#716 in North America

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

22. Guilford College

Greensboro

#897 in the United States

#967 in North America

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

23. Meredith College

Raleigh

#916 in the United States

#988 in North America

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

24. Warren Wilson College

Swannanoa

#1063 in the United States

#1137 in North America

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

25. Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City

#1064 in the United States

#1138 in North America

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

26. Gardner-Webb University

Boiling Springs

#1071 in the United States

#1146 in North America

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

27. Wingate University

Wingate

#1074 in the United States

#1149 in North America

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

28. Methodist University

Fayetteville

#1082 in the United States

#1157 in North America

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

29. Johnson C Smith University

Charlotte

#1162 in the United States

#1237 in North America

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

30. Lenoir-Rhyne University

Hickory

#1165 in the United States

#1240 in North America

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

31. University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Winston-Salem

#1191 in the United States

#1267 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

32. Pfeiffer University

Misenheimer

#1215 in the United States

#1292 in North America

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

33. St. Andrews University

Laurinburg

#1221 in the United States

#1298 in North America

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

34. Shaw University

Raleigh

#1231 in the United States

#1309 in North America

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

35. Catawba College

Salisbury

#1237 in the United States

#1315 in North America

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

36. Salem College

Winston-Salem

#1308 in the United States

#1386 in North America

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

37. Bennett College

Greensboro

#1330 in the United States

#1408 in North America

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

38. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Wake Forest

#1331 in the United States

#1409 in North America

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

39. Greensboro College

Greensboro

#1416 in the United States

#1500 in North America

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

40. Belmont Abbey College

Belmont

#1422 in the United States

#1507 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1080
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $24,726

41. Livingstone College

Salisbury

#1426 in the United States

#1511 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Net Price: $12,826
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $15,485

42. Cabarrus College of Health Sciences

Concord

#1434 in the United States

#1519 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $14,795
Receiving Aid: 100%

43. William Peace University

Raleigh

#1501 in the United States

#1587 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1153
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $24,216

44. Barton College

Wilson

#1504 in the United States

#1590 in North America

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

45. Chowan University

Murfreesboro

#1519 in the United States

#1605 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Net Price: $15,206
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $23,831

46. Brevard College

Brevard

#1532 in the United States

#1618 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1045
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $26,930

47. Mars Hill University

Mars Hill

#1548 in the United States

#1634 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Net Price: $18,925
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,066

48. University of Mount Olive

Mount Olive

#1556 in the United States

#1642 in North America

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

49. Montreat College

Montreat

#1597 in the United States

#1684 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Net Price: $28,112
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $18,992

50. North Carolina Wesleyan College

Rocky Mount

#1614 in the United States

#1701 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Net Price: $18,472
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,552

51. Lees-McRae College

Banner Elk

#1663 in the United States

#1751 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Net Price: $29,833
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $19,774

52. Piedmont International University

Winston-Salem

#1786 in the United States

#1875 in North America

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

53. Mid-Atlantic Christian University

Elizabeth City

#1981 in the United States

#2074 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1020
Net Price: $20,581
Receiving Aid: 100%

54. Saint Augustine's University

Raleigh

#2004 in the United States

#2097 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Net Price: $19,688
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $13,246

55. Platt College-Miller-Motte-Wilmington

Wilmington

#2129 in the United States

#2226 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $22,321
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $7,522

56. Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts

Asheville

#2169 in the United States

#2268 in North America

Enrollment: 102
Male:Female: 23:77

57. Shepherds Theological Seminary

Cary

#2175 in the United States

#2274 in North America

Enrollment: 201
Male:Female: 87:13

58. Carolina College of Biblical Studies

Fayetteville

#2200 in the United States

#2299 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $13,745
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,526

59. Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine

Sugar Grove

#2218 in the United States

#2317 in North America

Enrollment: 69
Male:Female: 20:80

60. Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary

Charlotte

#2235 in the United States

#2336 in North America

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

61. Hood Theological Seminary

Salisbury

#2287 in the United States

#2388 in North America

Enrollment: 115
Male:Female: 50:50

62. Carolina Christian College

Winston-Salem

#2312 in the United States

#2413 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $21,274
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $7,741

63. Heritage Bible College

Dunn

#2336 in the United States

#2437 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $18,684
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $6,184

64. Manna University

Fayetteville

#2347 in the United States

#2448 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Net Price: $12,736
Receiving Aid: 50%
Average Aid: $5,047

65. Living Arts College

Raleigh

#2359 in the United States

#2460 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $23,814
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $6,101

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
South Carolina	37	88
Virginia	63	40
West Virginia	26	108
Georgia	63	47
District of Columbia	15	51
Maryland	34	9
Kentucky	38	59
Tennessee	56	48
Delaware	5	90
Ohio	90	18
Pennsylvania	155	12
Alabama	33	85
New Jersey	47	21
Indiana	55	34
Florida	109	23
Connecticut	28	10
Illinois	100	15
New York	221	4
Mississippi	18	132
Rhode Island	12	50
Massachusetts	88	1
Michigan	62	3
Arkansas	24	128
Vermont	17	114
Missouri	67	39
New Hampshire	16	74
Louisiana	27	79
Wisconsin	47	13
Iowa	39	49
Maine	19	155
Oklahoma	31	97
Kansas	32	73
Minnesota	48	14
Nebraska	23	64
Texas	119	26
South Dakota	15	223
North Dakota	14	180
Colorado	38	45
Puerto Rico	52	366
New Mexico	12	83
US Virgin Islands	1	789
Wyoming	1	142
Montana	12	153
Utah	20	41
Arizona	25	35
Idaho	10	146
Nevada	10	131
Oregon	31	61
California	249	2
Washington	57	8
Alaska	6	182
Hawaii	10	357
American Samoa	1	1625
Northern Mariana Islands	1	1521
Guam	2	623

Closest to North Carolina states