Best Colleges in North Carolina 2026

North Carolina has 139 colleges and universities in our database; 127 report the graduation-rate data our ranking requires. The top 25 are ranked below by a fixed four-factor formula: 6-year graduation rate (30%), median earnings 10 years after entry (30%), admission selectivity (20%), and in-state tuition affordability (20%).

Schools Ranked

$50,044

Avg. Earnings

67.8%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Graduation Rate	Median Earnings	Acceptance Rate	In-State Tuition
1	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, North Carolina	92.1%	$72,200	17.1%	$8,989
2	Duke University Durham, North Carolina	95.8%	$97,800	6.4%	$65,805
3	North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, North Carolina	84.6%	$68,758	47.2%	$8,895
4	Carolinas College of Health Sciences Charlotte, North Carolina	100.0%	$64,624	70.6%	$19,095
5	Davidson College Davidson, North Carolina	91.9%	$81,400	17.0%	$60,300
6	Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, North Carolina	90.9%	$78,158	21.4%	$64,758
7	University of North Carolina School of the Arts Winston Salem, North Carolina	79.2%	$38,357	31.8%	$9,477
8	Stanly Community College Albemarle, North Carolina	71.7%	$36,686		$2,672
9	University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington, North Carolina	70.7%	$54,967	68.8%	$7,317
10	University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, North Carolina	67.7%	$57,289	79.6%	$7,214
11	Appalachian State University Boone, North Carolina	73.1%	$51,836	83.1%	$7,541
12	Elon University Elon, North Carolina	83.0%	$74,545	74.5%	$44,536
13	Cabarrus College of Health Sciences Concord, North Carolina	45.5%	$58,708	44.9%	$16,070
14	North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro, North Carolina	55.3%	$44,440	56.4%	$6,748
15	McDowell Technical Community College Marion, North Carolina	57.1%	$33,035		$1,958
16	Wayne Community College Goldsboro, North Carolina	56.6%	$34,148		$2,524
17	Edgecombe Community College Tarboro, North Carolina	57.6%	$33,267		$2,640
18	Wilkes Community College Wilkesboro, North Carolina	52.4%	$34,728		$2,572
19	Randolph Community College Asheboro, North Carolina	53.6%	$33,336		$2,416
20	Nash Community College Rocky Mount, North Carolina	52.5%	$34,912		$2,883
21	Montgomery Community College Troy, North Carolina	53.8%	$32,742		$2,538
22	Tri-County Community College Murphy, North Carolina	53.6%	$32,232		$2,363
23	Sampson Community College Clinton, North Carolina	52.5%	$33,409		$2,830
24	Gaston College Dallas, North Carolina	50.7%	$35,386		$3,186
25	Southwestern Community College Sylva, North Carolina	53.6%	$34,145		$5,806