Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

24 Best Universities in North Carolina for Optics

We ranked the top 24 universities for Optics in North Carolina based on strict academic metrics. Our methodology evaluated 925.7K subject-specific papers and 35.78M citations to find the strongest faculties. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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1

Durham, NC

Duke University

For Optics

#32 in United States #33 in North America

6% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1838 Founded

2

Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

For Optics

#45 in United States #50 in North America

15% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1460 Avg SAT

1789 Founded

3

Raleigh

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

For Optics

#50 in United States #55 in North America

42% Acceptance

28,422 Enrollment

1385 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

4

Winston-Salem

Wake Forest University

For Optics

#131 in United States #154 in North America

22% Acceptance

3,246 Enrollment

1465 Avg SAT

1834 Founded

5

Charlotte

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

For Optics

#149 in United States #172 in North America

80% Acceptance

4,202 Enrollment

1235 Avg SAT

1946 Founded

6

Greensboro

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

For Optics

#301 in United States #339 in North America

89% Acceptance

14,416 Enrollment

1253 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

7

Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem State University

For Optics

#605 in United States #661 in North America

78% Acceptance

4,192 Enrollment

925 Avg SAT

1892 Founded

8

Wilmington, NC

University of North Carolina Wilmington

For Optics

#365 in United States #412 in North America

64% Acceptance

3,193 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

9

Fayetteville, NC

Fayetteville State University

For Optics

#662 in United States #719 in North America

82% Acceptance

12,230 Enrollment

990 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

10

Boone

Appalachian State University

For Optics

#395 in United States #442 in North America

90% Acceptance

7,895 Enrollment

1200 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

11

High Point

High Point University

For Optics

#860 in United States #925 in North America

75% Acceptance

5,135 Enrollment

1215 Avg SAT

1924 Founded

12

Greenville, NC

East Carolina University

For Optics

#214 in United States #243 in North America

89% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1155 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

13

Pembroke, NC

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

For Optics

#756 in United States #818 in North America

93% Acceptance

5,437 Enrollment

1085 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

14

Asheville

University of North Carolina at Asheville

For Optics

#589 in United States #643 in North America

92% Acceptance

8,791 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

15

Buies Creek

Campbell University

For Optics

#728 in United States #790 in North America

87% Acceptance

5,382 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

16

Durham, NC

North Carolina Central University

For Optics

#429 in United States #478 in North America

87% Acceptance

2,238 Enrollment

1205 Avg SAT

1910 Founded

17

Laurinburg

St. Andrews University

For Optics

#541 in United States #595 in North America

100% Acceptance

71 Enrollment

1355 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

18

Davidson

Davidson College

For Optics

#508 in United States #562 in North America

13% Acceptance

1,869 Enrollment

1465 Avg SAT

1837 Founded

19

Elizabeth City

Elizabeth City State University

For Optics

#832 in United States #896 in North America

64% Acceptance

3,242 Enrollment

1000 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

20

Elon

Elon University

For Optics

#627 in United States #683 in North America

66% Acceptance

6,452 Enrollment

1205 Avg SAT

1889 Founded

21

Greensboro

Guilford College

For Optics

#833 in United States #897 in North America

80% Acceptance

4,709 Enrollment

1190 Avg SAT

1837 Founded

22

Cullowhee

Western Carolina University

For Optics

#483 in United States #536 in North America

82% Acceptance

12,230 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1889 Founded

23

Charlotte

Queens University of Charlotte

For Optics

#727 in United States #789 in North America

62% Acceptance

1,225 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

24

Greensboro

North Carolina A&T State University

For Optics

#269 in United States #304 in North America

50% Acceptance

3,242 Enrollment

1105 Avg SAT

1891 Founded