US CollegesColleges in North Carolina: cost, admission and results
99 degree-granting colleges and universities in North Carolina, with the admission rate, net price, graduation rate and earnings of each. The largest are North Carolina State University at Raleigh (27,371 undergraduates), University of North Carolina at Charlotte (24,453 undergraduates), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (20,752 undergraduates).
North Carolina at a glance
- Colleges on this site
- 99
- Public / private nonprofit / for-profit
- 46 / 47 / 6
- Median in-state tuition and fees
- $8,955
- Median net price a year
- $16,597
- Median admission rate
- 75%
- Median graduation rate
- 45%
- Median earnings 10 years on
- $46,097
No college in this list matches.
| College | Admission rate | Net price a year | Graduation rate | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian State UniversityBoone, NC · Public | 90% | $16,082 | 71% | $57,488 |
| Barton CollegeWilson, NC · Private nonprofit | 94% | $24,367 | 47% | $52,876 |
| Belmont Abbey CollegeBelmont, NC · Private nonprofit | 75% | $25,416 | 50% | $53,850 |
| Bennett CollegeGreensboro, NC · Private nonprofit | 51% | $27,547 | 32% | $43,355 |
| Bladen Community CollegeDublin, NC · Public | not reported | $12,951 | 31% | $34,309 |
| Brevard CollegeBrevard, NC · Private nonprofit | 42% | $25,617 | 40% | $49,182 |
| Brunswick Community CollegeBolivia, NC · Public | not reported | $9,193 | 40% | $39,051 |
| Cabarrus College of Health SciencesConcord, NC · Private nonprofit | 23% | $16,171 | 44% | $62,982 |
| Caldwell Community College and Technical InstituteHudson, NC · Public | not reported | not reported | 47% | $37,836 |
| Campbell UniversityBuies Creek, NC · Private nonprofit | 87% | $25,057 | 58% | $59,026 |
| Cape Fear Community CollegeWilmington, NC · Public | not reported | $6,156 | 41% | $41,969 |
| Carolina Christian CollegeWinston Salem, NC · Private nonprofit | not reported | $30,355 | 10% | $33,125 |
| Carolina College of Biblical StudiesFayetteville, NC · Private nonprofit | not reported | $18,951 | 50% | not reported |
| Carolina UniversityWinston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofit | 40% | $12,351 | 27% | $37,560 |
| Catawba CollegeSalisbury, NC · Private nonprofit | 75% | $15,993 | 48% | $52,260 |
| Catawba Valley Community CollegeHickory, NC · Public | not reported | $6,463 | 43% | $41,272 |
| Central Carolina Community CollegeSanford, NC · Public | not reported | $5,828 | 45% | $37,196 |
| Central Piedmont Community CollegeCharlotte, NC · Public | not reported | $1,741 | 38% | $43,413 |
| Chamberlain University-North CarolinaCharlotte, NC · Private for-profit | 100% | $38,460 | 0% | $96,897 |
| Charlotte Christian College and Theological SeminaryCharlotte, NC · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | $39,697 |
| Chowan UniversityMurfreesboro, NC · Private nonprofit | 69% | $19,783 | 27% | $41,371 |
| Coastal Carolina Community CollegeJacksonville, NC · Public | not reported | $9,584 | 48% | $43,014 |
| College of the AlbemarleElizabeth City, NC · Public | not reported | $2,323 | 45% | $33,906 |
| Craven Community CollegeNew Bern, NC · Public | not reported | $2,384 | 36% | $40,874 |
| Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical ArtsAsheville, NC · Private for-profit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Davidson CollegeDavidson, NC · Private nonprofit | 13% | $15,060 | 90% | $89,297 |
| Duke UniversityDurham, NC · Private nonprofit | 5.7% | $23,706 | 96% | $113,937 |
| Durham Technical Community CollegeDurham, NC · Public | not reported | $3,152 | 31% | $40,827 |
| East Carolina UniversityGreenville, NC · Public | 89% | $16,880 | 63% | $60,387 |
| Elizabeth City State UniversityElizabeth City, NC · Public | 64% | $8,048 | 46% | $44,614 |
| Elon UniversityElon, NC · Private nonprofit | 66% | $35,785 | 81% | $82,524 |
| Fayetteville State UniversityFayetteville, NC · Public | 82% | $8,500 | 37% | $47,125 |
| Forsyth Technical Community CollegeWinston-Salem, NC · Public | not reported | $2,937 | 45% | $40,074 |
| Galen Health Institutes-AshevilleAsheville, NC · Private for-profit | not reported | $28,979 | not reported | $69,188 |
| Gardner-Webb UniversityBoiling Springs, NC · Private nonprofit | 77% | $21,150 | 48% | $53,543 |
| Greensboro CollegeGreensboro, NC · Private nonprofit | 70% | $18,187 | 42% | $50,121 |
| Guilford CollegeGreensboro, NC · Private nonprofit | 80% | $22,813 | 43% | $52,803 |
| Guilford Technical Community CollegeJamestown, NC · Public | not reported | $17,020 | 33% | $38,309 |
| Halifax Community CollegeWeldon, NC · Public | not reported | not reported | 63% | $35,504 |
| Haywood Community CollegeClyde, NC · Public | not reported | not reported | 35% | $39,851 |
| Heritage Bible CollegeDunn, NC · Private nonprofit | not reported | $17,330 | not reported | $41,471 |
| High Point UniversityHigh Point, NC · Private nonprofit | 75% | $41,019 | 72% | $73,547 |
| Hood Theological SeminarySalisbury, NC · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Johnson & Wales University-CharlotteCharlotte, NC · Private nonprofit | 80% | $26,258 | 39% | $53,928 |
| Johnson C Smith UniversityCharlotte, NC · Private nonprofit | 45% | $21,397 | 34% | $44,849 |
| Johnston Community CollegeSmithfield, NC · Public | not reported | $5,459 | 36% | $41,366 |
| Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese MedicineSugar Grove, NC · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Lees-McRae CollegeBanner Elk, NC · Private nonprofit | 77% | $28,253 | 47% | $52,058 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne UniversityHickory, NC · Private nonprofit | 85% | $18,641 | 50% | $54,752 |
| Livingstone CollegeSalisbury, NC · Private nonprofit | 59% | $17,026 | 20% | $38,502 |
| Louisburg CollegeLouisburg, NC · Private nonprofit | 56% | $22,901 | 33% | $40,101 |
| Mars Hill UniversityMars Hill, NC · Private nonprofit | 68% | $20,442 | 46% | $48,185 |
| Mayland Community CollegeSpruce Pine, NC · Public | not reported | $2,488 | 43% | $37,041 |
| McDowell Technical Community CollegeMarion, NC · Public | not reported | $5,562 | 68% | $36,207 |
| Meredith CollegeRaleigh, NC · Private nonprofit | 74% | $22,801 | 72% | $54,417 |
| Methodist UniversityFayetteville, NC · Private nonprofit | 75% | $25,760 | 39% | $54,558 |
| Mid-Atlantic Christian UniversityElizabeth City, NC · Private nonprofit | 62% | $19,001 | 21% | $43,121 |
| Mitchell Community CollegeStatesville, NC · Public | not reported | $5,250 | 31% | $37,865 |
| Montreat CollegeMontreat, NC · Private nonprofit | 69% | $25,095 | 43% | $53,114 |
| North Carolina A & T State UniversityGreensboro, NC · Public | 50% | $9,884 | 56% | $50,279 |
| North Carolina Central UniversityDurham, NC · Public | 87% | $16,708 | 47% | $46,956 |
| North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh, NC · Public | 42% | $16,486 | 85% | $77,810 |
| North Carolina Wesleyan UniversityRocky Mount, NC · Private nonprofit | 80% | $20,318 | 45% | $49,264 |
| Pfeiffer UniversityMisenheimer, NC · Private nonprofit | 96% | $22,696 | 48% | $54,743 |
| Queens University of CharlotteCharlotte, NC · Private nonprofit | 62% | $29,421 | 57% | $58,736 |
| Roanoke-Chowan Community CollegeAhoskie, NC · Public | not reported | $4,688 | 27% | $34,989 |
| Robeson Community CollegeLumberton, NC · Public | not reported | $4,502 | 30% | $34,428 |
| Rockingham Community CollegeWentworth, NC · Public | not reported | $2,457 | 36% | $38,209 |
| Salem CollegeWinston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofit | 77% | $18,975 | 31% | $50,734 |
| Sandhills Community CollegePinehurst, NC · Public | not reported | $6,345 | 42% | $36,323 |
| Shaw UniversityRaleigh, NC · Private nonprofit | 80% | $24,242 | 20% | $38,822 |
| Shepherds Theological SeminaryCary, NC · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| South Piedmont Community CollegePolkton, NC · Public | not reported | $5,447 | 33% | $41,776 |
| South University-High PointHigh Point, NC · Private for-profit | not reported | $18,546 | not reported | $39,314 |
| Southeastern Baptist Theological SeminaryWake Forest, NC · Private nonprofit | 75% | $8,500 | 50% | not reported |
| Southeastern Community CollegeWhiteville, NC · Public | not reported | $4,352 | 43% | $35,037 |
| Southeastern Free Will Baptist Bible CollegeWendell, NC · Private nonprofit | not reported | $8,338 | 47% | not reported |
| Southwestern Community CollegeSylva, NC · Public | not reported | $11,865 | 53% | $39,394 |
| Strayer University-North CarolinaGreensboro, NC · Private for-profit | not reported | $18,695 | 0% | $44,016 |
| Tri-County Community CollegeMurphy, NC · Public | not reported | $1,103 | 48% | $34,449 |
| Universal Technical Institute-MooresvilleMooresville, NC · Private for-profit | not reported | $27,151 | 70% | $62,466 |
| University of Mount OliveMount Olive, NC · Private nonprofit | 76% | $18,927 | 42% | $54,851 |
| University of North Carolina AshevilleAsheville, NC · Public | 92% | $14,999 | 52% | $50,562 |
| University of North Carolina School of the ArtsWinston Salem, NC · Public | 30% | $14,859 | 80% | $46,097 |
| University of North Carolina WilmingtonWilmington, NC · Public | 64% | $19,570 | 72% | $61,019 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC · Public | 15% | $11,305 | 91% | $81,094 |
| University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte, NC · Public | 80% | $15,142 | 68% | $63,486 |
| University of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboro, NC · Public | 89% | $12,291 | 58% | $53,402 |
| University of North Carolina at PembrokePembroke, NC · Public | 93% | $10,522 | 44% | $48,029 |
| Vance-Granville Community CollegeHenderson, NC · Public | not reported | $2,806 | 47% | $38,697 |
| Wake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofit | 22% | $28,165 | 90% | $104,443 |
| Warren Wilson CollegeSwannanoa, NC · Private nonprofit | 71% | $23,319 | 40% | $39,685 |
| Watts College of NursingDurham, NC · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Western Carolina UniversityCullowhee, NC · Public | 82% | $13,025 | 61% | $53,764 |
| Western Piedmont Community CollegeMorganton, NC · Public | not reported | $3,726 | 42% | $37,927 |
| William Peace UniversityRaleigh, NC · Private nonprofit | 94% | $23,002 | 49% | $47,869 |
| Wilson Community CollegeWilson, NC · Public | not reported | $6,021 | 26% | $38,881 |
| Wingate UniversityWingate, NC · Private nonprofit | 91% | $21,511 | 43% | $57,646 |
| Winston-Salem State UniversityWinston-Salem, NC · Public | 78% | $12,817 | 47% | $52,558 |
"Not reported" means the Department of Education has no figure, often because the college is small, new, or does not take first-time students. Medians are the middle value of the colleges listed here.
The colleges of North Carolina in brief
Of the 99 colleges listed for North Carolina, 46 are public, 47 are private nonprofit and 6 are private for-profit. By level, 59 mainly award bachelor's degrees, 36 mainly award two-year associate degrees and 4 mainly award graduate degrees. Together they teach about 339,081 undergraduates, 81% of them at public colleges. The three largest, North Carolina State University at Raleigh, University of North Carolina at Charlotte and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, hold 21% of the total, and the middle-sized college has 1,276 undergraduates. The towns with the most colleges are Charlotte (7), Greensboro (6) and Winston-Salem (5).
What college costs in North Carolina
At the public colleges, the median published tuition and fees are $2,642 a year for students from North Carolina and $8,780 for students from elsewhere. At the private nonprofit colleges the median is $34,975. Published prices are not what most families pay. Counting colleges with at least 300 undergraduates, the lowest average net price after grants is at Tri-County Community College ($1,103) and Central Piedmont Community College ($1,741) and the highest at High Point University ($41,019) and Elon University ($35,785). The median net price across the state, $16,597, is 4% below the national median of $17,357.
Getting in
55 of the 99 colleges report an admission rate. The hardest to get into are Duke University (5.7% admitted), Davidson College (13% admitted) and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (15% admitted). 33 of them admit at least seven applicants in ten. 39 colleges have an open admission policy and report no rate: they do not turn applicants away on grades or test scores.
Finishing and earning
Among colleges with at least 300 undergraduates, the highest share of students finishing their course is at Duke University (96%), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (91%) and Wake Forest University (90%). The median graduation rate of the state's colleges is 45%, against 49% for the country. Ten years after starting, former students with federal aid earn the most at Duke University ($113,937), Wake Forest University ($104,443) and Davidson College ($89,297). The state median for that measure is $46,097, 13% below the national $53,132. Students who finish leave with a median federal loan debt of $21,590 (national median $19,994). Earnings follow the subjects a college teaches as much as its quality, so compare like with like.
Questions about colleges in North Carolina
How many colleges are there in North Carolina?
This site lists 99 open, degree-granting colleges and universities in North Carolina, out of 3,161 on the whole site. Schools that mainly give short certificates are not counted.
What is the largest college in North Carolina?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh in Raleigh, with about 27,371 undergraduate students.
Which college in North Carolina has the lowest net price?
Among colleges with at least 300 undergraduates, Tri-County Community College: students with federal aid paid an average of $1,103 a year after grants. Students from other states or countries usually pay more.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.