by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in North Carolina, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **93** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual analyzed 93 colleges across over 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
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Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Duke University earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in North Carolina. Located in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,758. Duke University graduates report median early-career earnings of $83,388. Duke University students take on a median of $13,296 in debt.
A rank of #2 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the top colleges in North Carolina. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Early-career graduates earn a median of $61,361. Typical student debt is $15,117.
You'll be in good company at Wake Forest University, which ranked #3 this year. Located in Winston-Salem, NC, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,642. Graduates go on to earn a median of $67,369 early in their careers. The median student debt is $21,577.
The strong outcomes at North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned it the #4 place in North Carolina. Set in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. North Carolina State University At Raleigh posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates report median early-career earnings of $59,622. Students borrow a median of $22,113 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at Davidson College, which ranked #5 this year. Davidson College is a private not-for-profit school based in Davidson, NC. About 91% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,430. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,505. Typical student debt is $19,906.
Elon University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Elon, NC, Elon University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $46,958 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $50,463. Graduates carry a median of $21,619 in student loans.
High Point University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Located in High Point, NC, High Point University is a private not-for-profit institution. High Point University graduates 72% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,312. High Point University graduates report median early-career earnings of $113,352. The median student debt is $23,785.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Wilmington, NC, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a public institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $7,277 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,152. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,164. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington students take on a median of $23,013 in debt.
Appalachian State University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Located in Boone, NC, Appalachian State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,579, with out-of-state students paying around $25,212. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,340 early in their careers. The median student debt is $21,992.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte did well this year, earning the #10 position. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public school based in Charlotte, NC. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,239, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $51,799. Graduates carry a median of $24,673 in student loans.
East Carolina University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Based in Greenville, NC, East Carolina University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. In-state tuition and fees average $7,361, with out-of-state students paying around $23,638. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,931 early in their careers. East Carolina University students take on a median of $24,747 in debt.
Carolinas College Of Health Sciences ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Charlotte, NC, Carolinas College Of Health Sciences is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,882. Early-career graduates earn a median of $63,608. Typical student debt is $24,874.
Western Carolina University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Cullowhee, NC. Western Carolina University graduates 60% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $4,630, compared with $8,630 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $44,926. Typical student debt is $24,174.
University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts placed #14 among the best colleges in North Carolina. Based in Winston Salem, NC, University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts is a public institution. University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts graduates 78% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,477, with out-of-state students paying around $27,211. University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts graduates report median early-career earnings of $21,656. Graduates carry a median of $24,434 in student loans.
Queens University Of Charlotte did well this year, earning the #15 position. Located in Charlotte, NC, Queens University Of Charlotte is a private not-for-profit institution. Queens University Of Charlotte graduates 61% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $45,846. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,654 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,245 to complete a degree here.
Meredith College did well this year, earning the #16 position. Based in Raleigh, NC, Meredith College is a private not-for-profit institution. Meredith College posts a six-year graduation rate of 70%. Students from in state pay about $45,630 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,537. Graduates carry a median of $26,618 in student loans.
Chamberlain University North Carolina landed the #17 spot in North Carolina this year. Based in Charlotte, NC, Chamberlain University North Carolina is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,520. Chamberlain University North Carolina graduates report median early-career earnings of $83,188. The median student debt is $39,146.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Located in Greensboro, NC, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,661, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,595 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,977.
Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences placed #19 among the best colleges in North Carolina. Set in Concord, NC, Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,550. Median early-career earnings reach $60,869. Graduates carry a median of $24,414 in student loans.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit school based in Wake Forest, NC. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary posts a six-year graduation rate of 17%. Students from in state pay about $11,318 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $54,863.
University Of North Carolina At Asheville ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Asheville, NC. University Of North Carolina At Asheville graduates 54% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,501, while out-of-state students pay about $24,849. University Of North Carolina At Asheville graduates report median early-career earnings of $31,821. Students borrow a median of $22,108 to complete a degree here.
Campbell University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Buies Creek, NC, Campbell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,600. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,629 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $23,641.
Wingate University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Wingate, NC, Wingate University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $42,576. Median early-career earnings reach $53,836. The median student debt is $25,556.
Gardner Webb University placed #24 among the best colleges in North Carolina. Based in Boiling Springs, NC, Gardner Webb University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. In-state tuition and fees run about $34,750. Median early-career earnings reach $63,220. Graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans.
Lenoir Rhyne University landed the #25 spot in North Carolina this year. Set in Hickory, NC, Lenoir Rhyne University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $31,900. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,985. Lenoir Rhyne University students take on a median of $26,900 in debt.
These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.