Best colleges in North Carolina
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Be prepared to choose your favorite shade of blue when you move down south and all the top colleges are all blue. North Carolina is a progressive state with a public university system of 16 colleges and a school for the arts. The Old North State also plays host to some pretty prestigious private liberal arts colleges with intimate learning opportunities. The average student-faculty ratio at a private school in North Carolina is 11:1. Their community college system is massive, providing plenty of options at its 58 campuses for those who are still figuring out their career path. North Carolina graduates go on to work at businesses like JD Motorsports, Red Storm Entertainment, and Rocky Mount Instruments.
Race car driving is huge in North Carolina, and you'll see plenty of racing companies all over the state. If you're interested in engineering or mechanics, a North Carolina education will serve you well. On your off hours, visit one of the multiple aquariums throughout the state, or hang out at one of the notable pubs and restaurants. Check out the Raleigh Times Bar or the North Banks Restaurant. The nightlife is sweet in this Southern state filled to the brim with sweet tea, friends, and higher learning. Wikipedia, "List of colleges and universities in North Carolina" , "North Carolina Community College System", "Companies based in North Carolina" www.visitraleigh.com
Click Here to See the Best Colleges in the US*Wikipedia, “List of colleges and universities in North Carolina”, “North Carolina Community College System”, “Companies based in North Carolina” *www.visitraleigh.comBest Four Year Universities in North Carolina
Duke University is a private university founded in 1892 in Durham, North Carolina by Quaker and Methodist groups in the region. Duke gets its name from the tobacco and electrical magnate Washington Duke, who worked with Julian S. Carr in the late 1890s to build the school’s first campus, known locally as East Campus. The university's West Campus was later constructed in the early 1930s in a gothic and Georgian style. Duke has 12 schools and undergraduate programs including the Pratt School of Engineering, Duke Kunshan, and the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences.
Duke has a total undergraduate enrollment of around 15,000 students that take classes according to a semester-based academic calendar. Prospective students should note that tuition is well over $50,000 with an acceptance rate of just under 10%, making it one of the hardest, most costly schools in the U.S.
Duke has a history of academic research and has annual budgets that exceed $1 billion, with strong biomedical funding from groups like the NIH. The graduation rate at Duke is an impressive 94.5%, thanks in part to the student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1 as well as strong financial aid packages. The Duke Blue Devils are known globally for their success in NCAA men’s basketball, with their coach, known as Coach K, winning 5 national championships during his tenure at the school. Notable alumni include retired Representative Ron Paul, news anchor Judy Woodruff, and billionaire Melinda French.
Davidson College offers 36 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2023, 504 students graduated with students earning 504 Bachelor's degrees.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers 267 degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2023, 9,002 students graduated with students earning 4,951 Bachelor's degrees, 2,791 Master's degrees, 1,253 Doctoral degrees, and 7 Certificates.
Wake Forest University offers 122 degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 2,810 students graduated with students earning 1,284 Bachelor's degrees, 1,211 Master's degrees, 303 Doctoral degrees, and 12 Certificates.
North Carolina State University, or NC State, is a public university founded in 1887, with the flagship campus located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Undergraduate enrollment at NC State is 35,000, and students take classes at the Main, Centennial, and NC Research Campuses. NC State is located in the Research Triangle in the Raleigh-Durham area along with Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Raleigh has a bustling downtown, a historic theme park, and a wide range of hiking trails just outside the city.
The university offers over 100 bachelor’s programs and over 60 doctoral degree options through competitive schools like the Polle College of Management and the Wilson College of Textiles. Prospective applicants should note that in-state tuition is roughly a quarter of out-of-state tuition, totaling just below $10,000. Students at NC State take classes on a semester-based academic calendar in a typical large undergraduate lecture format.
NC State has an annual budget that exceeds $1.5 billion, one of the largest annual budgets in the country, with funding going towards nationally-ranked research institutes, a competitive athletic program, and robust merit and need-based scholarships. Notable research institutes at NC State include the FREEDM Systems Center for smart-grid technology, the ASSIST Center for health-monitoring devices, and the Laboratory for Analytic Sciences. Notable alumni include quarterback Russell Wilson, actor Zach Galifianakis, and former Senator John Edwards.
University of North Carolina School of the Arts offers 12 degree programs. It's a small, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 318 students graduated with students earning 229 Bachelor's degrees, 77 Master's degrees, and 12 Certificates.
Elon University offers 98 degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize suburb. In 2023, 1,772 students graduated with students earning 1,471 Bachelor's degrees, 172 Doctoral degrees, and 129 Master's degrees.
North Carolina A & T State University offers 163 degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 2,581 students graduated with students earning 2,044 Bachelor's degrees, 414 Master's degrees, 68 Doctoral degrees, and 55 Certificates.
Meredith College offers 77 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 473 students graduated with students earning 314 Bachelor's degrees, 82 Certificates, and 77 Master's degrees.
University of North Carolina Wilmington offers 171 degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2023, 5,173 students graduated with students earning 3,717 Bachelor's degrees, 1,287 Master's degrees, 102 Doctoral degrees, and 67 Certificates.
Best Community Colleges in North Carolina
Miller-Motte College-Jacksonville offers 4 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a small city. In 2023, 54 students graduated with students earning 41 Certificates, and 13 Associate's degrees.
Louisburg College offers 3 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a faraway rural area. In 2023, 107 students graduated with students earning 107 Associate's degrees.
Edgecombe Community College offers 68 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a outlying rural area. In 2023, 252 students graduated with students earning 175 Associate's degrees, and 77 Certificates.
Miller-Motte College-Fayetteville offers 7 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a midsize city. In 2023, 53 students graduated with students earning 47 Certificates, and 6 Associate's degrees.
Stanly Community College offers 99 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a faraway town. In 2023, 413 students graduated with students earning 332 Associate's degrees, and 81 Certificates.
Randolph Community College offers 65 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a faraway town. In 2023, 500 students graduated with students earning 387 Associate's degrees, and 113 Certificates.
Richmond Community College offers 58 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a faraway town. In 2023, 377 students graduated with students earning 335 Associate's degrees, and 42 Certificates.
Wayne Community College offers 105 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a small city. In 2023, 714 students graduated with students earning 527 Associate's degrees, and 187 Certificates.
Miller-Motte College-Raleigh offers 6 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2023, 54 students graduated with students earning 39 Certificates, and 15 Associate's degrees.
Wilkes Community College offers 72 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a faraway town. In 2023, 645 students graduated with students earning 423 Associate's degrees, and 222 Certificates.
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| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Duke University Durham, NC | 12 : 1 | 17,112 | |
|
Davidson College Davidson, NC | 8 : 1 | 1,904 | |
|
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | 19 : 1 | 32,234 | |
|
Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC | 14 : 1 | 9,121 | |
|
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC | 20 : 1 | 37,323 | |