Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

59 Best Universities in North Carolina

Exploring the academic landscape of North Carolina, our index provides a definitive ranking of the top 59 higher education institutions. By assessing 931.8K research papers and their 35.86M citations, we reveal the most impactful research centers. Factoring in the global influence of 253.6K notable graduates, this index isolates true institutional success beyond traditional prestige.

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1

Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

#24 in United States #26 in North America

15% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1460 Avg SAT

1789 Founded

2

Durham, NC

Duke University

#27 in United States #29 in North America

6% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1838 Founded

3

Raleigh

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

#44 in United States #47 in North America

42% Acceptance

28,422 Enrollment

1385 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

4

Winston-Salem

Wake Forest University

#111 in United States #127 in North America

22% Acceptance

3,246 Enrollment

1465 Avg SAT

1834 Founded

5

Greenville, NC

East Carolina University

#174 in United States #198 in North America

89% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1155 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

6

Charlotte

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

#191 in United States #216 in North America

80% Acceptance

4,202 Enrollment

1235 Avg SAT

1946 Founded

7

Greensboro

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

#201 in United States #228 in North America

89% Acceptance

14,416 Enrollment

1253 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

8

Boone

Appalachian State University

#247 in United States #278 in North America

90% Acceptance

7,895 Enrollment

1200 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

9

Wilmington, NC

University of North Carolina Wilmington

#288 in United States #319 in North America

64% Acceptance

3,193 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

10

Greensboro

North Carolina A&T State University

#310 in United States #344 in North America

50% Acceptance

3,242 Enrollment

1105 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

11

Cullowhee

Western Carolina University

#370 in United States #413 in North America

82% Acceptance

12,230 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1889 Founded

12

Elon

Elon University

#393 in United States #439 in North America

66% Acceptance

6,452 Enrollment

1205 Avg SAT

1889 Founded

13

Durham, NC

North Carolina Central University

#445 in United States #492 in North America

87% Acceptance

2,238 Enrollment

1205 Avg SAT

1910 Founded

14

Buies Creek

Campbell University

#546 in United States #601 in North America

87% Acceptance

5,382 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

15

Asheville

University of North Carolina at Asheville

#552 in United States #607 in North America

92% Acceptance

8,791 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

16

Pembroke, NC

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

#601 in United States #658 in North America

93% Acceptance

5,437 Enrollment

1085 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

17

High Point

High Point University

#620 in United States #679 in North America

75% Acceptance

5,135 Enrollment

1215 Avg SAT

1924 Founded

18

Fayetteville, NC

Fayetteville State University

#632 in United States #691 in North America

82% Acceptance

12,230 Enrollment

990 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

19

Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem State University

#648 in United States #708 in North America

78% Acceptance

4,192 Enrollment

925 Avg SAT

1892 Founded

20

Charlotte

Queens University of Charlotte

#655 in United States #716 in North America

62% Acceptance

1,225 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

21

Greensboro

Guilford College

#897 in United States #967 in North America

80% Acceptance

4,709 Enrollment

1190 Avg SAT

1837 Founded

22

Raleigh

Meredith College

#916 in United States #988 in North America

74% Acceptance

1,206 Enrollment

1223 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

23

Swannanoa

Warren Wilson College

#1063 in United States #1137 in North America

71% Acceptance

1,765 Enrollment

1033 Avg SAT

1894 Founded

24

Elizabeth City

Elizabeth City State University

#1064 in United States #1138 in North America

64% Acceptance

3,242 Enrollment

1000 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

25

Boiling Springs

Gardner-Webb University

#1071 in United States #1146 in North America

77% Acceptance

23,556 Enrollment

1087 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

26

Wingate

Wingate University

#1074 in United States #1149 in North America

91% Acceptance

2,673 Enrollment

1110 Avg SAT

1896 Founded

27

Fayetteville, NC

Methodist University

#1082 in United States #1157 in North America

75% Acceptance

1,467 Enrollment

1165 Avg SAT

1956 Founded

28

Charlotte

Johnson C Smith University

#1162 in United States #1237 in North America

45% Acceptance

6,353 Enrollment

1090 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

29

Hickory

Lenoir-Rhyne University

#1165 in United States #1240 in North America

85% Acceptance

1,472 Enrollment

1115 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

30

Winston-Salem

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

#1191 in United States #1267 in North America

30% Acceptance

946 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1963 Founded

31

Misenheimer

Pfeiffer University

#1215 in United States #1292 in North America

96% Acceptance

696 Enrollment

1253 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

32

Laurinburg

St. Andrews University

#1221 in United States #1298 in North America

100% Acceptance

71 Enrollment

1355 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

33

Raleigh

Shaw University

#1231 in United States #1309 in North America

80% Acceptance

877 Enrollment

940 Avg SAT

1865 Founded

34

Salisbury, NC

Catawba College

#1237 in United States #1315 in North America

75% Acceptance

1,262 Enrollment

1165 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

35

Winston-Salem

#1308 in United States #1386 in North America

77% Acceptance

464 Enrollment

1155 Avg SAT

1772 Founded

36

Wake Forest

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

#1331 in United States #1409 in North America

75% Acceptance

1,183 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

$16,031 Net Price

37

Greensboro

Greensboro College

#1416 in United States #1500 in North America

70% Acceptance

6,885 Enrollment

1190 Avg SAT

1838 Founded

38

Belmont, NC

Belmont Abbey College

#1422 in United States #1507 in North America

75% Acceptance

63,012 Enrollment

1080 Avg SAT

1876 Founded

39

Salisbury, NC

Livingstone College

#1426 in United States #1511 in North America

59% Acceptance

63,012 Enrollment

940 Avg SAT

1879 Founded

40

Concord, NC

Cabarrus College of Health Sciences

#1434 in United States #1519 in North America

23% Acceptance

816 Enrollment

22 Avg ACT

1942 Founded

41

Wilson

#1504 in United States #1590 in North America

94% Acceptance

1,352 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1902 Founded

42

Murfreesboro, NC

Chowan University

#1519 in United States #1605 in North America

69% Acceptance

603 Enrollment

1848 Founded

$15,206 Net Price

43

Brevard

Brevard College

#1532 in United States #1618 in North America

42% Acceptance

1,765 Enrollment

1045 Avg SAT

1853 Founded

44

Mars Hill

Mars Hill University

#1548 in United States #1634 in North America

68% Acceptance

1,765 Enrollment

1033 Avg SAT

1856 Founded

45

Mount Olive

University of Mount Olive

#1556 in United States #1642 in North America

76% Acceptance

1,944 Enrollment

1165 Avg SAT

1951 Founded

46

Montreat

Montreat College

#1597 in United States #1684 in North America

69% Acceptance

781 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

1916 Founded

47

Rocky Mount

North Carolina Wesleyan College

#1614 in United States #1701 in North America

80% Acceptance

63,012 Enrollment

940 Avg SAT

1956 Founded

48

Banner Elk

Lees-McRae College

#1663 in United States #1751 in North America

77% Acceptance

873 Enrollment

1900 Founded

$29,833 Net Price

49

Winston-Salem

Piedmont International University

#1786 in United States #1875 in North America

40% Acceptance

460 Enrollment

925 Avg SAT

1945 Founded

50

Raleigh

Saint Augustine’s University

#2004 in United States #2097 in North America

34% Acceptance

173 Enrollment

1867 Founded

$19,688 Net Price

51

Asheville

Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts

#2169 in United States #2268 in North America

80% Acceptance

52

Cary

Shepherds Theological Seminary

#2175 in United States #2274 in North America

90% Acceptance

53

Fayetteville, NC

Carolina College of Biblical Studies

#2200 in United States #2299 in North America

100% Acceptance

159 Enrollment

$13,745 Net Price

54

Sugar Grove, NC

Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine

#2218 in United States #2317 in North America

79% Acceptance

55

Charlotte

Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary

#2235 in United States #2336 in North America

100% Acceptance

24 Enrollment

$15,124 Net Price

56

Salisbury, NC

Hood Theological Seminary

#2287 in United States #2388 in North America

76% Acceptance

57

Winston-Salem

Carolina Christian College

#2312 in United States #2413 in North America

100% Acceptance

52 Enrollment

$21,274 Net Price

58

Dunn

Heritage Bible College

#2336 in United States #2437 in North America

100% Acceptance

22 Enrollment

$18,684 Net Price

59

Fayetteville, NC

Manna University

#2347 in United States #2448 in North America

53% Acceptance

202 Enrollment

$12,736 Net Price