Best Colleges in North Carolina + Full List of Schools

Classes began at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1795, making it the nation's first public university. The school now offers more than 250 degrees to over 30,000 students. 

UNC-Chapel Hill has reputable programs in biology, business, and media and journalism. The school performs more than 60% of the entire UNC system's research. UNC-Chapel Hill also ranks 10th in the country for federal research, with funding at $706 million.

Wake Forest University was founded in 1848 and enrolls nearly 9,000 students in over 100 programs. In 1962, Wake Forest became the first major private school in the South to end segregation. 

Despite its expansive reputation and significant research contributions, the school maintains an intimate classroom environment and an 11-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Wake Forest also boasts a leading Division I athletics program with nine national championships.

Established in 1924, Duke University offers more than 280 programs to over 17,000 students. Known for its programs in computer science, economics, public policy, and biology, the school also hosts one of the nation's leading research ecosystems. 

Duke established the Duke University Health System, which is responsible for three hospitals and numerous medical breakthroughs. The school is also home to one of the nation's leading private research library systems.

Founded in 1887, North Carolina State University (NC State) has grown into one of the country's top public research universities. The school provides more than 300 programs and over 600 student groups for its student body of over 36,000. 

As a leading research school, NC State spends over $546 million in annual research, the 6th most among non-medical public colleges. NC State research has helped create over 190 startups and generate over $1.7 billion in financing.

Elon University specializes in experiential learning and engagement on a 690-acre campus designated as a botanical garden. The school runs more than 75 programs for over 8,000 students while maintaining an 11-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. 

Elon's student participation numbers stand out from most schools. Over 87% of students complete internships, nearly 60% of students hold a leadership position on campus, 44% study abroad, and nearly 25% take part in research. The school encourages extracurricular involvement with over 200 student organizations and 17 NCAA Division I teams.

Founded as Watauga Academy in 1899, Appalachian State University became one of UNC's 17 campuses in 1971. The school now enrolls more than 21,000 students who participate in over 150 programs and over 7,800 internships.

Appalachian keeps classroom sizes to an average of 25 and a student-to-teacher ratio of 16-to-1. Along with the sprawling 1,200-acre campus in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian students have over 400 organizations they can join.

The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) began as Wilmington College in 1947. Now part of the UNC system, UNCW enrolls over 18,000 students online and at its 650-acre coastal campus. 

In addition to programs in business and computer science, UNCW hosts the nation's first coastal engineering program. The school's Center for Marine Science positions it as a leader in marine science research. UNCW also makes significant contributions to the arts, technology, and healthcare.

UNC Charlotte's home to more than 190 programs and over 30,000 students. The nearly 1,000-acre campus hosts more than 350 student organizations, along with a 148,000-square-foot recreation center. 

UNC Charlotte drives innovation from many of its programs, including architecture, engineering, and data science. The school's research efforts have led to 524 awards and the development of 18 new businesses between 2018 and 2023.

The largest historically Black college and university (HBCU) in the country, North Carolina A&T State University (N.C. A&T) enrolls more than 13,000 students. A leader in STEM education and research, the school runs over 100 programs across nine departments. 

N.C. A&T's reputation for academic excellence and innovation has led to substantial funding initiatives for a STEAM teacher training program and agriculture program.

While East Carolina University (ECU) started in 1909 as a teacher's college, the school now offers more than 170 degree programs. Learners can also join one of over 375 clubs and organizations. 

Nearly 50% of ECU's student body of 28,000 enroll in the school's STEM or healthcare programs. The reputable health sciences department houses programs in medicine, dentistry, and nursing. In fact, ECU is the state's only university with dentistry, medical, and engineering schools.