Best Colleges in North Carolina (2026)
153 colleges ranked by graduate earnings, acceptance rates, and outcomes — powered by federal data from the U.S. Department of Education.
153
Colleges
$39,774
Avg Earnings (10yr)
$14,528
Avg Net Price
68%
Avg Admit Rate
52%
Avg Grad Rate
State Overview
North Carolina is home to 153 colleges and universities, ranging from research universities to community colleges. Duke University leads the state in graduate earnings, with state alumni earning $39,774 on average ten years after enrollment. Whether you're looking for a flagship research university, a liberal arts college, or a career-focused program, North Carolina offers diverse options across all price points.
Quick Facts — North Carolina Colleges
Top 10 Colleges in North Carolina by Graduate Earnings
Ranked by median earnings 10 years after enrollment. Public and private nonprofit only.
3
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem·Private Nonprofit
Admit
22%
Net Price
$28,719
Grad Rate
89%
Earnings
$78,158
5
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill·Public
Admit
15%
Net Price
$11,655
Grad Rate
91%
Earnings
$72,200
6
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh·Public
Admit
42%
Net Price
$17,303
Grad Rate
85%
Earnings
$68,758
7
Carolinas College of Health Sciences
Charlotte·Public
Admit
60%
Net Price
N/A
Grad Rate
100%
Earnings
$64,624
8
High Point University
High Point·Private Nonprofit
Admit
75%
Net Price
$38,707
Grad Rate
74%
Earnings
$61,389
9
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
Concord·Private Nonprofit
Admit
23%
Net Price
$17,618
Grad Rate
71%
Earnings
$58,708
10
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte·Private Nonprofit
Admit
62%
Net Price
$30,857
Grad Rate
61%
Earnings
$57,673
Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina
Lowest average net price after grants and scholarships. Public and private nonprofit only.
Popular Majors
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Find my North Carolina collegeAll Colleges in North Carolina
All 153 accredited institutions. Click column headers to sort.
| School | City | Type | Admit Rate | Net Price | Grad Rate | Earnings (10yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alamance Community College | Graham | Public | N/A | $6,109 | N/A | $34,241 |
| Alexander Paul Institute of Hair Design | Greenville | Private For-Profit | N/A | $11,495 | N/A | N/A |
| Appalachian State University | Boone | Public | 90% | $16,836 | 75% | $51,836 |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | Asheville | Public | N/A | $11,602 | N/A | $36,048 |
| Aveda Institute-Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill | Private For-Profit | N/A | $20,736 | N/A | $26,873 |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte | Charlotte | Private For-Profit | N/A | $25,733 | N/A | $42,759 |
| Barton College | Wilson | Private Nonprofit | 94% | $23,626 | 46% | $47,913 |
| Beaufort County Community College | Washington | Public | N/A | $6,500 | N/A | $32,519 |
| Belmont Abbey College | Belmont | Private Nonprofit | 75% | $24,639 | 47% | $47,937 |
| Bennett College | Greensboro | Private Nonprofit | 51% | $28,299 | 25% | $36,654 |
| Beyond Measure Barbering Institute | Mebane | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Bladen Community College | Dublin | Public | N/A | $9,551 | N/A | $30,591 |
| Blue Ridge Community College | Flat Rock | Public | N/A | $5,756 | N/A | $36,324 |
| Brevard College | Brevard | Private Nonprofit | 42% | $23,509 | 49% | $43,545 |
| Brunswick Community College | Bolivia | Public | N/A | $9,009 | N/A | $36,668 |
| Bull City Durham Beauty and Barber College | Durham | Private For-Profit | N/A | $11,819 | N/A | N/A |
| Cabarrus College of Health Sciences | Concord | Private Nonprofit | 23% | $17,618 | 71% | $58,708 |
| Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute | Hudson | Public | N/A | $10,810 | N/A | $34,515 |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek | Private Nonprofit | 87% | $24,516 | 61% | $54,886 |
| Cape Fear Community College | Wilmington | Public | N/A | $9,610 | N/A | $38,654 |
| Carolina Christian College | Winston Salem | Private Nonprofit | N/A | $22,366 | 15% | $40,672 |
| Carolina College of Biblical Studies | Fayetteville | Private Nonprofit | N/A | $21,322 | 0% | $24,581 |
| Carolina College of Hair Design Inc | Asheville | Private For-Profit | N/A | $13,396 | N/A | N/A |
| Carolina University | Winston-Salem | Private Nonprofit | 40% | $20,828 | 22% | $32,864 |
| Carolinas College of Health Sciences | Charlotte | Public | 60% | N/A | 100% | $64,624 |
| Carteret Community College | Morehead City | Public | N/A | $10,764 | N/A | $33,357 |
| Catawba College | Salisbury | Private Nonprofit | 75% | $17,879 | 47% | $48,793 |
| Catawba Valley Community College | Hickory | Public | N/A | $10,528 | N/A | $36,977 |
| Center for Massage | Asheville | Private For-Profit | N/A | $18,631 | N/A | $19,244 |
| Central Carolina Community College | Sanford | Public | N/A | $5,446 | N/A | $33,525 |
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | Public | N/A | $3,345 | N/A | $37,865 |
| Chamberlain University-North Carolina | Charlotte | Private For-Profit | 100% | $38,436 | N/A | $92,405 |
| Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary | Charlotte | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $33,696 |
| Chowan University | Murfreesboro | Private Nonprofit | 69% | $14,086 | 30% | $38,412 |
| Cleveland Community College | Shelby | Public | N/A | $995 | N/A | $33,755 |
| Coastal Carolina Community College | Jacksonville | Public | N/A | $9,461 | N/A | $36,444 |
| College of the Albemarle | Elizabeth City | Public | N/A | $2,253 | N/A | $33,234 |
| College of Wilmington | Wilmington | Private For-Profit | N/A | $23,108 | N/A | $19,235 |
| Craven Community College | New Bern | Public | N/A | $3,289 | N/A | $34,231 |
| Davidson College | Davidson | Private Nonprofit | 13% | $17,379 | 91% | $81,400 |
| Davidson-Davie Community College | Thomasville | Public | N/A | $8,753 | N/A | $36,337 |
| Duke University | Durham | Private Nonprofit | 6% | $29,612 | 97% | $97,800 |
| Durham Technical Community College | Durham | Public | N/A | $1,664 | N/A | $36,142 |
| East Carolina University | Greenville | Public | 89% | $15,739 | 63% | $55,146 |
| Edgecombe Community College | Tarboro | Public | N/A | $0 | N/A | $33,267 |
| Elizabeth City State University | Elizabeth City | Public | 64% | $6,364 | 44% | $40,026 |
| Elon University | Elon | Private Nonprofit | 66% | $41,555 | 84% | $74,545 |
| Empire Beauty School-Charlotte | Charlotte | Private For-Profit | N/A | $16,089 | N/A | $24,022 |
| Empire Beauty School-Concord | Concord | Private For-Profit | N/A | $14,750 | N/A | $23,925 |
| Empire Beauty School-Pineville | Charlotte | Private For-Profit | N/A | $15,672 | N/A | $23,925 |
| Empire Beauty School-West Greensboro | Greensboro | Private For-Profit | N/A | $16,932 | N/A | $24,407 |
| Empire Beauty School-Winston-Salem | Winston-Salem | Private For-Profit | N/A | $16,503 | N/A | $24,397 |
| Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville | Public | 82% | $7,892 | 38% | $40,144 |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College | Fayetteville | Public | N/A | $3,589 | N/A | $31,861 |
| Forsyth Technical Community College | Winston-Salem | Public | N/A | $7,200 | N/A | $34,139 |
| Galen Health Institutes-Asheville | Asheville | Private For-Profit | N/A | $28,602 | N/A | $61,480 |
| Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs | Private Nonprofit | 77% | $17,674 | 55% | $48,039 |
| Gaston College | Dallas | Public | N/A | $6,592 | N/A | $35,386 |
| Greensboro College | Greensboro | Private Nonprofit | 70% | $17,882 | 46% | $46,566 |
| Guilford College | Greensboro | Private Nonprofit | 80% | $22,270 | 46% | $47,590 |
| Guilford Technical Community College | Jamestown | Public | N/A | $15,002 | N/A | $33,934 |
| Gwinnett College | Raleigh | Private For-Profit | N/A | $30,219 | N/A | $29,234 |
| Halifax Community College | Weldon | Public | N/A | $9,040 | N/A | $31,644 |
| Haywood Community College | Clyde | Public | N/A | $6,723 | N/A | $34,770 |
| Heritage Bible College | Dunn | Private Nonprofit | N/A | $18,684 | N/A | $30,672 |
| High Point University | High Point | Private Nonprofit | 75% | $38,707 | 74% | $61,389 |
| Isothermal Community College | Spindale | Public | N/A | $10,758 | N/A | $33,325 |
| James Sprunt Community College | Kenansville | Public | N/A | $1,863 | N/A | $29,307 |
| Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte | Charlotte | Private Nonprofit | 80% | $27,426 | 49% | $43,418 |
| Johnson C Smith University | Charlotte | Private Nonprofit | 45% | $20,894 | 34% | $42,680 |
| Johnston Community College | Smithfield | Public | N/A | $1,776 | N/A | $37,310 |
| Lees-McRae College | Banner Elk | Private Nonprofit | 77% | $28,340 | 42% | $43,415 |
| Lenoir Community College | Kinston | Public | N/A | $4,127 | N/A | $33,866 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory | Private Nonprofit | 85% | $20,689 | 48% | $45,543 |
| Leons Beauty School Inc | Greensboro | Private For-Profit | N/A | $4,799 | N/A | $26,958 |
| Livingstone College | Salisbury | Private Nonprofit | 59% | $13,479 | 28% | $32,600 |
| Louisburg College | Louisburg | Private Nonprofit | 56% | $22,694 | N/A | $34,818 |
| Manna University | Fayetteville | Private Nonprofit | 53% | $15,210 | 80% | N/A |
| Mars Hill University | Mars Hill | Private Nonprofit | 68% | $19,910 | 45% | $44,781 |
| Martin Community College | Williamston | Public | N/A | $2,676 | N/A | $26,016 |
| Mayland Community College | Spruce Pine | Public | N/A | $5,861 | N/A | $34,663 |
| McDowell Technical Community College | Marion | Public | N/A | $7,784 | N/A | $33,035 |
| Meredith College | Raleigh | Private Nonprofit | 74% | $22,488 | 70% | $51,539 |
| Methodist University | Fayetteville | Private Nonprofit | 75% | $24,704 | 44% | $48,050 |
| Mid-Atlantic Christian University | Elizabeth City | Private Nonprofit | 62% | $18,328 | 21% | $38,342 |
| Miller-Motte College-Fayetteville | Fayetteville | Private For-Profit | N/A | $26,409 | N/A | $31,102 |
| Miller-Motte College-Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Private For-Profit | N/A | $23,535 | N/A | $31,102 |
| Miller-Motte College-Raleigh | Raleigh | Private For-Profit | N/A | $22,736 | N/A | $31,102 |
| Mitchell Community College | Statesville | Public | N/A | $6,481 | N/A | $33,298 |
| Montgomery Community College | Troy | Public | N/A | $13,832 | N/A | $32,742 |
| Montreat College | Montreat | Private Nonprofit | 69% | $27,061 | 50% | $45,151 |
| MyComputerCareer at Raleigh | Raleigh | Private For-Profit | N/A | $26,528 | N/A | N/A |
| Nash Community College | Rocky Mount | Public | N/A | $3,338 | N/A | $34,912 |
| No Grease Barber School | Charlotte | Private For-Profit | N/A | $20,795 | N/A | N/A |
| North Carolina A & T State University | Greensboro | Public | 50% | $10,846 | 57% | $44,440 |
| North Carolina Central University | Durham | Public | 87% | $15,359 | 42% | $42,968 |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Raleigh | Public | 42% | $17,303 | 85% | $68,758 |
| North Carolina Wesleyan University | Rocky Mount | Private Nonprofit | 80% | $17,432 | 42% | $45,873 |
| One Stop Academy | Fayetteville | Private For-Profit | N/A | $35,519 | N/A | N/A |
| Pamlico Community College | Grantsboro | Public | N/A | $1,321 | N/A | $30,005 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Charlotte | Charlotte | Private For-Profit | N/A | $23,033 | N/A | $23,966 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Fayetteville | Fayetteville | Private For-Profit | N/A | $18,496 | N/A | $26,696 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Raleigh | Raleigh | Private For-Profit | N/A | $18,166 | N/A | N/A |
| Pfeiffer University | Misenheimer | Private Nonprofit | 96% | $19,076 | 35% | $51,562 |
| Piedmont Community College | Roxboro | Public | N/A | $1,095 | N/A | $33,274 |
| Pinnacle Institute of Cosmetology | Mooresville | Private For-Profit | N/A | $17,000 | N/A | $22,786 |
| Pitt Community College | Winterville | Public | N/A | $7,337 | N/A | $37,259 |
| Queens University of Charlotte | Charlotte | Private Nonprofit | 62% | $30,857 | 61% | $57,673 |
| Randolph Community College | Asheboro | Public | N/A | $6,918 | N/A | $33,336 |
| Richmond Community College | Hamlet | Public | N/A | $5,071 | N/A | $29,951 |
| Roanoke-Chowan Community College | Ahoskie | Public | N/A | $5,570 | N/A | $29,324 |
| Robeson Community College | Lumberton | Public | N/A | $2,892 | N/A | $29,036 |
| Rockingham Community College | Wentworth | Public | N/A | $2,060 | N/A | $32,480 |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community College | Salisbury | Public | N/A | $7,981 | N/A | $34,936 |
| Saint Augustine's University | Raleigh | Private Nonprofit | 34% | $24,313 | 25% | $35,730 |
| Salem College | Winston-Salem | Private Nonprofit | 77% | $18,277 | 57% | $44,640 |
| Sampson Community College | Clinton | Public | N/A | $3,108 | N/A | $33,409 |
| Sandhills Community College | Pinehurst | Public | N/A | $4,157 | N/A | $31,656 |
| Shaw University | Raleigh | Private Nonprofit | 80% | $16,512 | 22% | $34,409 |
| South Piedmont Community College | Polkton | Public | N/A | $6,675 | N/A | $37,308 |
| South University-High Point | High Point | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $34,421 |
| Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary | Wake Forest | Private Nonprofit | 75% | $13,090 | 58% | N/A |
| Southeastern College-Charlotte | Charlotte | Private For-Profit | 94% | $30,611 | N/A | $31,548 |
| Southeastern Community College | Whiteville | Public | N/A | $9,148 | N/A | $30,284 |
| Southeastern Free Will Baptist Bible College | Wendell | Private Nonprofit | N/A | $12,602 | 42% | N/A |
| Southwestern Community College | Sylva | Public | N/A | $5,207 | N/A | $34,145 |
| Stanly Community College | Albemarle | Public | N/A | $5,721 | N/A | $36,686 |
| Strayer University-North Carolina | Greensboro | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | 33% | $40,092 |
| Surry Community College | Dobson | Public | N/A | $4,961 | N/A | $36,012 |
| Tri-County Community College | Murphy | Public | N/A | $7,799 | N/A | $32,232 |
| Universal Technical Institute-Mooresville | Mooresville | Private For-Profit | N/A | $28,915 | N/A | $52,873 |
| University of Mount Olive | Mount Olive | Private Nonprofit | 76% | $18,853 | 52% | $47,139 |
| University of North Carolina Asheville | Asheville | Public | 92% | $12,250 | 54% | $44,030 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill | Public | 15% | $11,655 | 91% | $72,200 |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte | Public | 80% | $15,435 | 69% | $57,289 |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro | Public | 89% | $10,965 | 56% | $48,160 |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Pembroke | Public | 93% | $10,260 | 44% | $43,407 |
| University of North Carolina School of the Arts | Winston Salem | Public | 30% | $14,906 | 78% | $38,357 |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | Wilmington | Public | 64% | $20,109 | 71% | $54,967 |
| Vance-Granville Community College | Henderson | Public | N/A | $3,286 | N/A | $34,304 |
| Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem | Private Nonprofit | 22% | $28,719 | 89% | $78,158 |
| Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh | Public | N/A | $8,759 | N/A | $41,769 |
| Warren Wilson College | Swannanoa | Private Nonprofit | 71% | $21,249 | 42% | $36,260 |
| Watts College of Nursing | Durham | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Wayne Community College | Goldsboro | Public | N/A | $2,245 | N/A | $34,148 |
| Western Carolina University | Cullowhee | Public | 82% | $13,315 | 60% | $49,458 |
| Western Piedmont Community College | Morganton | Public | N/A | $6,448 | N/A | $34,195 |
| Wilkes Community College | Wilkesboro | Public | N/A | -$264 | N/A | $34,728 |
| William Peace University | Raleigh | Private Nonprofit | 94% | $21,649 | 45% | $46,643 |
| Wilson Community College | Wilson | Public | N/A | $3,064 | N/A | $32,973 |
| Wingate University | Wingate | Private Nonprofit | 91% | $20,748 | 46% | $52,649 |
| Winston Salem Barber School | Winston-Salem | Private For-Profit | N/A | $14,610 | N/A | $16,389 |
| Winston-Salem State University | Winston-Salem | Public | 78% | $13,479 | 47% | $45,344 |
Showing 153 of 153 schools