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2024 Best Colleges in North Carolina

93 Colleges
$46,810 Avg Salary*
56% Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*

There are lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Top North Carolina Colleges ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

We analyzed 93 colleges and universities across North Carolina to determine which were the best in terms of overall quality. Instead of depending on subjective information, we focus on over 20 objective factors to determine this ranking. These factors include such things as student-to-faculty ratio, average graduate earnings, and graduation rate.

See what other factors we include in our ranking methodology.

Custom Rankings

Since one ranking on its own is not enough to give you a complete understanding of your educational options, you can refine this list by location and field of study. We've also developed a number of other tools and rankings based on other factors. These other rankings highlight colleges that excel in other factors such as value or diversity as well as schools that excel in serving different groups of students such as veterans or returnings adults.

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You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering!

Top Colleges in North Carolina

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

1
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

Duke University tops this year’s ranking as the best school in North Carolina for overall quality. Located in Durham, North Carolina, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 6,654 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

The student-to-faculty rate of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Duke make an average of $93,115 per year during the early years of their career.

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2

A rank of #2 on our Best Colleges in North Carolina list means University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree.Chapel Hill, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 9,948 students in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UNC Chapel Hill make an average of $61,915 per year during the early years of their career.

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3
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

Out of the 93 schools in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, North Carolina State University landed the #3 spot on the list. NC State is a public institution located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10,643 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $61,353 during the early years of their career..

Read full report on North Carolina State University

4
Wake Forest University crest
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Wake Forest University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in North Carolina. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 2,875 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University make an average of $74,968 per year during the early years of their career.

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5
Elon crest
Elon University
Elon, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Elon University. The school came in at #5 in North Carolina on this year’s overall quality ranking. Elon University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Elon, North Carolina that handed out 1,958 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The 4-year grad rate at the school is 82%. That’s impressive when you compare it to the national rate of 33%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Elon make an average of $64,238 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Elon University

6

University of North Carolina at Charlotte came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in North Carolina ranking. This large public school is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and it awarded 8,764 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UNC Charlotte go into careers with an average salary of $52,252 during the early years of their career.

Full University of North Carolina at Charlotte Report

7
ECU crest
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina

East Carolina University landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in North Carolina ranking. Located in Greenville, North Carolina, the large public school awarded 7,432 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from ECU is $47,403 during the early years of their career.

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8

With a ranking of #8, Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in North Carolina list. JWU Charlotte is a private not-for-profit institution located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 419 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from JWU Charlotte go into careers with an average salary of $41,977 during the early years of their career.

Full Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte Report

9
Appalachian State crest
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina

Appalachian State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Boone, North Carolina, the large public school handed out 5,301 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State is $45,602 during the early years of their career.

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10

University of North Carolina at Wilmington did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #10. This fairly large public school is located in Wilmington, North Carolina, and it awarded 5,264 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UNCW go into careers with an average salary of $49,739 during the early years of their career.

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11
Meredith crest
Meredith College
Raleigh, North Carolina

With a ranking of #11, Meredith College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in North Carolina list. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 562 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Meredith make an average of $43,646 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Meredith College

12

University of North Carolina at Greensboro ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges in North Carolina list. This fairly large public school is located in Greensboro, North Carolina, and it awarded 4,984 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $44,195 during the early years of their career..

Read full report on University of North Carolina at Greensboro

13
Wake Technical Community College crest
Wake Technical Community College
Raleigh, North Carolina

Wake Technical Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Colleges in North Carolina list.Raleigh, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 8,408 students in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Wake Technical Community College go into careers with an average salary of $37,589 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Wake Technical Community College

14
CVCC crest
Catawba Valley Community College
Hickory, North Carolina

Catawba Valley Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Colleges in North Carolina list. CVCC is a small public school situated in Hickory, North Carolina. It awarded 1,587 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $32,292 during the early years of their career..

Read full report on Catawba Valley Community College

15
Cleveland Community College crest
Cleveland Community College
Shelby, North Carolina

Cleveland Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges in North Carolina list. Cleveland Community College is a public institution located in Shelby, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 840 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from Cleveland Community College make an average of $28,499 a year.

Read full report on Cleveland Community College

16
Beaufort County Community College crest
Beaufort County Community College
Washington, North Carolina

Beaufort County Community College landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in North Carolina ranking. Beaufort County Community College is a small public school located in Washington, North Carolina that handed out 630 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from Beaufort County Community College make an average of $29,004 a year.

Read full report on Beaufort County Community College

17
WCU crest
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, North Carolina

Western Carolina University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #17. Western Carolina University is a fairly large public school located in Cullowhee, North Carolina that handed out 3,186 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from WCU go into careers with an average salary of $43,366 during the early years of their career.

Full Western Carolina University Report

18
High Point crest
High Point University
High Point, North Carolina

High Point University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #18. High Point is a private not-for-profit institution located in High Point, North Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,215 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from High Point go into careers with an average salary of $48,534 during the early years of their career.

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19
Central Piedmont Community College crest
Central Piedmont Community College
Charlotte, North Carolina

Central Piedmont Community College landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in North Carolina ranking.Charlotte, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 4,084 students in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from Central Piedmont Community College make an average of $32,469 a year.

Read full report on Central Piedmont Community College

20
Queens crest
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina

Queens University of Charlotte landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in North Carolina ranking. Queens University of Charlotte is a small private not-for-profit school located in Charlotte, North Carolina that handed out 846 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Queens go into careers with an average salary of $52,880 during the early years of their career.

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21
Johnston Community College crest
Johnston Community College
Smithfield, North Carolina

With a ranking of #21, Johnston Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in North Carolina list. This small public school is located in Smithfield, North Carolina, and it awarded 1,382 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Johnston Community College make an average of $32,036 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Johnston Community College

22
Gaston College crest
Gaston College
Dallas, North Carolina

Gaston College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Colleges in North Carolina list. Gaston College is located in Dallas, North Carolina and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,915 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

During the early years of their career, graduates from Gaston College make an average of $30,512 a year.

Read More…

23
Campbell crest
Campbell University
Buies Creek, North Carolina

Campbell University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Colleges in North Carolina list. Campbell University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Buies Creek, North Carolina that handed out 1,648 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from Campbell make an average of $49,601 a year.

Read full report on Campbell University

24
Forsyth Tech crest
Forsyth Technical Community College
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Forsyth Technical Community College landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in North Carolina ranking. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the medium-sized public school handed out 2,569 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from Forsyth Tech make an average of $30,809 a year.

Read full report on Forsyth Technical Community College

25
Gardner - Webb crest
Gardner - Webb University
Boiling Springs, North Carolina

With a ranking of #25, Gardner - Webb University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in North Carolina list. Gardner - Webb University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina that handed out 1,141 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Gardner - Webb go into careers with an average salary of $42,248 during the early years of their career.

Full Gardner - Webb University Report

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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